water Archives - Fixt Plumbing

Locating Underground Water Line Leaks

Professional Advice for Spotting Hidden Water Leaks

Many things can go wrong with the plumbing in a home, but not all of them are obvious. Leaky faucets and running toilets make themselves apparent almost immediately, but for some problems, they can be harder to identify and locate. One of the main impediments to finding some plumbing problems is that much of the plumbing infrastructure is underground. It takes certain knowledge and equipment to notice and locate these problems.

Noticing hidden water leaks is an important skill for any homeowner because hidden water leaks can have dramatic consequences in the form of water damage and high water bills. This blog post will share some ways for homeowners to identify if they have hidden leaks and how professionals can locate them.

Watch Out for These Signs

Most of the signs of leaks in hidden piping are subtle. Since the leaking pipe is hidden, sometimes several feet underground, the signs of underground water line leaks are usually the effects they have on the surface. Some examples of common signs that indicate an underground leak are:

Soggy and wet spots or puddles of water on the property
Water flowing out from below a slab or concrete structure
Noticeable decrease in water pressure in the home
Sounds of running water with no apparent source
High water bills

If any of these signs are present, there is a good chance that a hidden pipe has sprung a leak. At this point, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional plumber so they can pinpoint the leak’s location and make a plan for repairs.

Check the Water Meter

If there is a suspected leak in the piping, homeowners can follow a particular set of instructions to verify the leak with their water meter. Furthermore, periodically taking these steps can help homeowners better monitor for leaks in their homes. The procedure is as follows:

Shut off the water service to the home at the main water valve. This valve is located where the water service enters the house, usually near the water heater.
Pull the cover off the water meter can and look at the dials on the water meter. With the main water line properly isolated, there should be no movement.
A water leak is present if the dials are still turning, and a plumber should be called.

How Professionals Find Hidden Water Leaks

Accuracy is critical when it comes to fixing hidden water leaks. Underground leaks can happen below a slab or under important landscaping, and digging up the water line can be seriously disruptive to a home, so the interruptions must be kept as small as possible. Plumbers use specialized tools, equipment, and techniques to increase their accuracy in pinpointing underground leaks.

To locate the leak, plumbers might use acoustic leak detectors, which use sensitive microphones to pick up the sound from a usually unheard leak. This allows them to locate leaks under concrete or otherwise hidden. Plumbers may also use video inspection cameras to visually inspect the leak before attempting repairs. By using this advanced equipment, plumbers can get more accurate information on the leak’s location, allowing them to make fast, precise, and less invasive repairs.

About Fixt Plumbing

Fixt Plumbing offers award-winning plumbing services to the residents of Bethany, OK, and the surrounding areas. They provide same-day service, upfront pricing, and 24-hour emergency plumbing services. Call them today for water leak detection and burst pipe repair in Bethany, OK.

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Kick Off Spring Cleaning With Water Heater Maintenance

Why is Water Heater Maintenance Important?

Spring cleaning is a popular tradition during this time of year. However, spring cleaning isn’t just devoted to decluttering the living spaces. It also includes home maintenance projects. This year, remember to schedule water heater maintenance during spring cleaning. Here are a few steps that professionals take during water heater maintenance and why they are important.

Why Plumbers Flush the Water Heater?

It is important to flush the water heater tank regularly, as sediment and mineral buildup inside the tank can decrease its efficiency over time. This buildup can also lead to hot water that has an unpleasant taste or odor, as well as drastically reducing the performance of the water heater.

The sediment can act as an insulator in the tank, which keeps it from heating the water as quickly as it should. Flushing the tank regularly can ensure that the hot water is clean and the water heater is efficient. Additionally, regular flushing of a water heater can help to extend its lifespan and prevent costly issues down the line, such as corrosion.

Other Water Heater Maintenance Tasks

Flushing the water heater is one water heater maintenance task, but it isn’t the only one. When professionals tackle water heater maintenance, they have a whole checklist of their own to ensure the water heater is ready for another year. Some of the additional tasks that are performed during water heater maintenance are:

Checking the water heater’s anode rod and replacing it if necessary
Cleaning the burner or heating elements
Searching for signs of corrosion or leaks
Verifying electrical connections
Testing safety devices

Benefits of Maintenance

When water heater maintenance is done regularly, homeowners will notice benefits like:

Cheaper Utility Bills: Maintenance ensures the water heater is working more efficiently, leading to lower utility bills.
Abundant Hot Water: By removing sediment from the water heater, there is more space for hot water. Additionally, heating the water will require less energy, so the recovery rate will be faster.
Fewer Repairs: Water heater maintenance reduces the likelihood of problems. When done effectively, homeowners can expect fewer repairs to be necessary, saving money.
Longer Lifespan: Annual water heater maintenance allows for a longer life expectancy of the unit, saving money by delaying replacement.

About Fixt Plumbing

Fixt Plumbing has award-winning service serving residents of Bethany, OK, and the surrounding areas. They provide upfront pricing, same-day service, and 24-hour emergency plumbing services. Call them today for water heater services in Bethany, OK.

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Avoid the “Pinch” of a Sky-High Water Bill This St. Patrick’s Day

How to Go Green and Save on Your Water Bill This St. Patrick’s Day

Wearing green isn’t the only way to avoid getting pinched on St. Patrick’s Day. Homeowners facing the rising costs of most goods and services can also save themselves from the “pinch” of a higher-than-normal water bill by making small changes to their homes and routines. Here are three examples of water-saving changes homeowners can easily make to help save on water bills.

Don’t Leave the Faucet Running

A tap left running is one of the worst offenders of wasted water in the home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), turning off the water while brushing teeth can save about 8 gallons a day, and homeowners can save around 10 gallons per shave if they turn off the water when shaving. If done with the tap running, these two activities alone could waste almost 5,700 gallons of water a year.

These numbers reflect the impact of these seemingly harmless activities on water usage, so homeowners who seek to conserve water can do so by turning off the tap while washing hands or dishes, brushing their teeth, and the like. The good news? They can most certainly save money while they’re at it.

Switch to Water-Saving Appliances and Fixtures

Technology has come a long way in making homes more efficient regarding resource consumption. The modern home can now be equipped with appliances and fixtures that save water and cut down on costs. Fixtures that will help homes conserve water include:

Low-flow faucets: By limiting water flow to 2.2 gallons a minute or less, these faucets drastically reduce the amount of water used every time the tap is turned on. Most faucets on the market today already have this technology, and homes due for a faucet upgrade will benefit from a lower water bill.

Faucet aerator: If low-flow faucets are not in the budget, attaching a simple faucet aerator to an existing tap will do practically the same thing at a fraction of the cost. The only downside? Aerators may not fit older faucets. Those would be better off upgrading to newer, low-flow water taps.

Dual flush toilets: These toilets save water by giving homeowners two flushing options. One button activates a full flush, usually for solid waste, while the other button uses less water, usually for liquid waste, saving water and money.

Watch What You Flush

Toilet clogs are another way homeowners are flushing water down the drain. When toilets are backed up, more water is used in futile attempts to clear the blockage. To prevent water from being wasted by toilet clogs, homeowners should keep certain items from getting flushed down the toilet.

Items like wipes (even those marketed as flushable), feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts, paper towels, medications, and even kitty litter should all be kept away from the toilet. They can cause clogs that wastewater and sewer line clogs can lead to more water-wasting problems like leaks and burst pipes. Practicing this simple habit could go a long way in helping with water conservation efforts and preventing unexpected high water bills.

About Fixt Plumbing

Fixt Plumbing has award-winning service and serves Bethany, OK, and the surrounding areas. They provide transparent pricing, same-day service, and 24-hour emergency plumbing services. Call them today for emergency or kitchen plumbing services in Bethany, OK.