Hutchins Plumbing & A/C, Inc. - Complete Plumbing Service, Repair, Sales & Installation. Master Plumber. Grayson & Collin County, Texas. Plumbing Tips Page

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Plumbing Tips

At Hutchins Plumbing & A/C, Inc. we realize that every plumbing problem you may have may not require the expertise of a licensed plumber and can be corrected if you have the knowledge to complete your project effectively. This section has been designed to provide helpful plumber tips and plumbing advice from our plumbing experts that may help you in certain situations.

Leaky Faucet Plumbing Tip:

Besides being annoying, fixing a leaky faucet also saves you money! Dripping water at one drip per second wastes 400 gallons of water in a year. If this is hot water, you are watching even money go down the drain! Although a small drip may seem inconsequential, it will cost you money. Replaced washers will tighten your faucets and get rid of those leaks, and they only take minutes to install.

Pipe Plumbing Tips:

To eliminate sweating cold water pipes during the summer months, place foam pipe insulation over the pipes. The tubing keeps the warm humid air from condensing on the cold pipes.

Bathroom Plumbing Tips:
Be sure to check faucets and pipes for leaks.
Replace standard shower heads with low-volume heads or flow restrictors.
Be sure to check your toilet periodically for leaks. This can be done by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. After a few minutes, if you see color in the bowl, you have a leak, perhaps caused by a faulty flapper.
Listen for gurgling sounds coming from your toilet. (These noises indicate the flush valve needs to be adjusted to stop wasting water.)
Avoid using your toilet as a wastebasket or ashtray. Extra flushes waste water and money.

Water Heater Plumbing Tips:

For safety reasons, keep the temperature below the factory setting listed on the water heater or in the manual. Above that setting will greatly increase the potential for scalding. Any questions, please call the manufacturer or your plumber at Hutchins Plumbing & A/C, Inc.

All water heaters are required by law to be equipped with a temperature and pressure relieve (t & p valve) as a safety feature to prevent damage from excessive pressure (>150 psi) or temperature (>210°F). If the t & p valve is discharging water you should call your plumber at Hutchins Plumbing & A/C, Inc. immediately.

Flushing your water heater should be done on a regular basis. The procedure is as follows:

Hook a garden hose up to the bottom drain valve. Place the hose in a position to allow full discharge of the water through the hose (into a floor drain, bath tub or street)

*NOTE: THIS WATER WILL BE HOT AND IS A SCALD HAZARD! THE TEMPERATURE MAY KILL PLANTS.

Open the drain valve wide open. Do not close off the incoming cold water supply to the heater. Run the water out of the hose until the water runs clear (usually just a few seconds). Once the water is clear, shut off the bottom drain valve and remove the hose.

Kitchen & Laundry Plumbing Tips:
Automatic dishwashers and washers are more efficient if run only when they are full.
When washing dished by hand, don’t let the tap run freely to rinse. Fill the second side of the sink with rinse water.
Fill a pitcher with drinking water and store it in the refrigerator.

Garbage Disposals "DO's" & DON'T's:

DO's....

1. Do run a strong flow of water while grinding.

2. Do run water for at least 30 seconds after out of the disposal.

3. Do run the disposal each time waste is put in.

4. Do use small batches when disposing of large amounts, especially starchy foods such as potato peels, rice, pasta, etc.

5. Fibrous foods such as cabbage, asparagus, banana peels, etc. should be cut into small pieces before grinding.

6. Do run disposal with ice and/or citrus peel to clean and deodorize as needed.

DON’T's....

1. Do not grind bones, shells, or very fibrous things such as corn cobs or corn husks.

2. Do not stuff with large amounts of food at one time.

We hope that you have found these plumbing tips to be helpful. We also want you to understand that they are not intended to replace the expert opinion and services of a professional plumber. If you have any questions or we can assist you in any way, please feel free to contact Hutchins Plumbing & A/C, Inc. at 903-892-9925 or 972-562-6292. For your convenience, you may also request services from this site.

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to serving you in the near future!

Grayson County
903-892-9925

Collin County
972-562-6292

Hutchins Plumbing & A/C Inc. proudly services Grayson County and Collin County including the cities of Allen, Bells, Collinsville, Denison, Fairview, Farmersville, Frisco, Gordonville, Gunter, Howe, Lowry Crossing, Lucas, McKinney, New Hope, Plano, Pottsboro, Princeton, Prosper, Richardson, Sachse, Sadler, Sherman, Southmayd, Tioga, Tom Bean, Van Alstyne, Whitesboro, Whitewright, and Wylie.