Preventing Water Damage – The Manmade Kind
This time of year, many homeowners worry about water damage from heavyrainstorms, yet few ever think about potential trouble spots in their ownplumbing. Unlike the weather, plumbing-related water damage can be avoided with routine maintenance and a little assistance from a professional plumber.Water leaks can happen anywhere in the house, but they occur most frequentlyin the kitchen, bathroom and laundry rooms. Early detection of problems in these areas can mean the difference between a simple mop-up job and major construction repairs.
Kitchen
Dishwasher – Periodically check under the sink to see if the hose connection to the water supply line is secure and
is not leaking. Check around the base of the dishwasher for evidence of leaks. Look for discolored, warped or soft
flooring materials or water damage to nearby cabinets.
Refrigerator – If your refrigerator has an icemaker, check the hose connection to make sure it is securely attached to
the water supply line. The wet spot you see on the floor near the refrigerator may be melted ice cubes or it may be a
crimped icemaker line about to burst.
Sink – Recaulk around sinks and pay attention to slow-draining pipes. This may indicate a partially blocked drain.
Check the pipes under the sink for signs of water leaks.
Bathroom
Showers, Tubs and Toilets – Discoloration or soft areas around floors and walls nearby may be your first indication
there is a leak somewhere. Check caulking at joints where the walls meet the floor or the bathtub, looking for cracks
or mold. If either is found, clean and remove loose material and apply new sealant.
Sinks – Check under the sink for signs of leaks from water supply lines or drainpipes.
Laundry/Utility Room
Washing Machine – Inspect washing machine hoses regularly for wetness around hose ends and signs of bulging,
cracking or fraying. Replace the hose if a problem is found or every three to five years as part of a proactive maintenance program.
Water Heater – Wet spots on the floor or a rusted tank may signal a problem. Hot water heaters should be installed
on the lowest level of the home and always located next to a floor drain. If installed above or adjacent to finished
spaces, the hot water heater should be placed inside a drain pan with the drain pan piped to the floor drain.
Air Conditioning – At the start of the cooling season, have the A/C system serviced by a qualified contractor.
Make sure their service includes inspecting and cleaning the air conditioner condensation pan drain line to keep it
free of obstructions. Don’t forget that your first line of defense during a plumbing emergency is your home’s main
water shut-off valve. Know where it is and check it frequently to make sure it’s operational. Keep the number of your
Benjamin Franklin plumber nearby, too. Anytime trouble strikes, we’re just a phone call away!
From the Desk of …
By Steve Grohn
Ben’s Words of Wisdom
In addition to his inventions, discoveries and his role in the Revolution and forming our Constitution,
Benjamin Franklin was an eloquent and proverbial speaker and writer. Recently, I came across several
of his famous and not so-well-known quotes and, naturally, I saw a few that apply to plumbing. “An ounce
of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is still the best advice any home- owner can heed when it comes
to plumbing. Each and every issue of the Punctual Post offers several routine maintenance tips to help our
customers prevent or detect plumbing problems. “A little neglect may breed great mischief.” This one speaks
to the value of paying attention to your plumbing system so that its many components don’t turn into trouble
spots. “Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee.” Whether it’s your home or my business, keeping everything
in good working order helps us make and save more of our hard-earned money.“Glass, China and reputation are
easily cracked, and never well mended.” We work hard to establish a strong reputa- tion. Satisfying each and
every customer is the only way to maintain it.
Stainless Steel Not the Only Show in Town
First it was the kitchen sink. Then appliances and faucet fixtures followed suit. When it comes to kitchen décor,
stainless steel has come to define the 2000s as pea green did the 1960s. Now it’s finding its way into new and
remodeled bathrooms with increasing frequency. Stainless washbasins, pedestal sinks, faucets, toilets and soaking
tubs are available in greater number and variety than ever. The trend isn’t based on fashion alone. Stainless steel
surfaces are durable, easy to clean and sanitize. However, stainless isn’t the only fash- ionable finish for plumbing
fixtures, nor is it always the best option. Traditional chrome is shiny and works very well in most bathrooms simply
because it matches basically everything. The downside is that it tends to show water spots and requires constant
wiping and cleaning in order to maintain its shine. Brushed nickel or chrome has a matte finish and is much less
reflective than its chrome counterpart. It does a better job of hiding dirt and water spots and gives a bathroom a
much softer and warmer feel. Brass fixtures aren’t as common as they once were,and they tend to have a smaller
style selection available than do the chromes and brushed nickels. From a functionality standpoint, there is no
difference. Brass fittings do tend to require a little more cleaning than the others, but if your goal is to create a
luxurious and rich looking space in your bathroom, then this may be the way to go. Oil-rubbed bronze, like
stainless steel, has become an immensely popular look in the past few years.
It is a dark finish, almost black, with highlights of the bronze showing through. It’s a popular finish in rooms
that use a lot of dark wood in the trim work and on the floor. They’re also very popular in bathrooms with rustic
looking tile. Remember that if you choose to install a new fixture with a particular finish, you should plan on
keeping the theme for the entire kitchen or bath. A stainless sink will look out of place with a porcelain tub.
Also keep in mind that certain fixtures may require special installation parts or techniques. Please call us if
you need help with any plumbing-related aspect of the job!
Mellow Out a Rockin’ Toilet
Wobbling toilets are a source of aggravation at best; at worst, they can cause damaging leaks and harm the
bathroom subfloor or waste pipe.Sometimes all that’s needed to prevent a toilet from rocking is to tighten the
mounting bolts located on the bottom of each side. Be careful not to crank them down too tight, which could
crack the ceramic and lead to an expensive repair or, more likely, replacement. For another possible cure, try
slipping flexible shims beneath the toilet base.If you’ve ignored the problem for long, however, the smartest
choice may be to call us, the professionals, to remove and reinstall the toilet. This will allow you to see whether
all that rocking and rolling has broken anything or opened a leak under the toilet, here it’s most difficult to spot.
We will inspect the flange for cracks that could also be causing the rocking. Our goal is to get you on steady ground,
and you can trust the professionals at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to do just that.
Buildup Can Bring a Water Heater Down
When water is heated inside a typical water heater, the mineral calcium carbonate precipitates out from the water
and settles into the bottom of the tank. The resulting sediment can cause all sorts of problems if allowed to build up
over time. In gas water heaters, the sediment forms an unwanted layer of insulation between the burner and the
water it’s supposed to heat. This slows heat transfer and overheats the tank bottom, weakening the steel,
damaging the glass lining and decreasing the lifespan of the unit. In the case of electrics, it can bury the lower
heating element, causing it to burn out. Sediment buildup also creates a playground for corrosive active bacteria
and lowers the energy efficiency of the tank. Sediment can even drift into recirculation lines, jam open check valves
and cause the recirculation pump to stick until it burns out. If all of that isn’t bad enough, a heavy load of sediment
can create an annoying noise that, at times, may be downright frightening. The clamor is caused by small amounts
of overheated water under the sediment layer turning to steam bubbles, which then collapse violently. Most tanks,
both gas and electric, have domed bottoms so that sediment falls out toward the edges and stays there. To make
matters worse, typical drains are small, plastic jobs that can easily be clogged by one large piece of sediment.
Having a plumbing professional conduct and annual water heater check-up where they drain the water heater
can prevent the problems mentioned above from occurring. It’s a job best suited for a professional, although
routinely flushing the tank is a good way to keep sediment buildup to a minimum, thus delaying the need for a
new water heater.
Big Roots, Big Problems
Tree roots will travel long distances to find water, especially during winter or anytime drought conditions persist.
When trees and shrubs get thirsty, they follow the trail of moisture vapors escaping from small cracks, holes or
poorly sealed joints in water and sewer lines. Roots penetrate the opening to reach the nutrients and moisture inside
the pipes. If not stopped, roots can completely fill a pipe with multiple hair-like root masses at each point of entry.
The root was quickly become clogged with grease and other debris flowing from homes to the main sewer line,
resulting in reduced flow and slowed drains. A complete blockage may occur if the roots are not removed. Roots
can also exert considerable pressure at the crack or joint. The increased pressure often breaks the pipe and may
require costly repair or replacement. Clay pipe, which is most common in older water and sewer lines, is easily
penetrated and damaged by tree roots. Concrete pipe and PVC pipe may also allow root intru sion, but to a
lesser extent than clay. PVC pipe usually has fewer joints and the tightly fitted joints are less likely to leak as a
result of settlement around the pipe. If incoming water or outgoing sewer lines are slow and you suspect a clog,
the problem will likely not go away, meaning it’s time to inves- tigate the problem. If roots have entered your pipes,
Ben Franklin can remove them using powerful cutting blades. The process could require digging or new trenchless
technology to reach the affected pipe(s), usually several feet down. Once the trench is dug, the plumber can repair or
replace the pipes and cut away any threatening roots.
Don’t Sweat the Stool Stuff
By Paul Gavic
Just like that cold fountain drink you enjoy on a hot afternoon, the tank portion of some toilets can be prone to
sweating, especially during warmer months of the year. Condensation is created by cold water in contact with the
warmer walls of the porcelain tank. The moisture can form into beads and, if large enough, will drip onto the floor,
making bathroom carpet wet or potentially accumulating in puddles on a hard surface.
There are Four Basic Solutions to the Problem
1. Install insulating foam products to isolate the water from the interior tank walls.
2. Another option is to have us install a mixer valve, which uses both hot and cold water to neutralize the water temperature.
3. Then there’s another option: replacing the guts of the toilet with a pressure- assisted unit, which reduces the amount of water needed in the tank (about 1 gallon per flush). With less water sitting in the tank, condensation is eliminated. The contraption will save water, too.
4. Of course, there’s always the option of replacing the entire toilet. Older models hold much more water in the tank and thus are more prone to sweating. Today’s low-flush and pressure-assisted toilets eliminate the sweating problem and use up to five times less water.
Don’t let your toilet sweat through another summer. The above tips will keep water where it belongs – in your tank.
Our Honor Pledge You Can’t Lose … Ever!
Are we perfect? No. No one is. But every day, every person at Benjamin Franklin the Punctual Plumber is striving
to be excellent at what we do and how we serve you. You, our customer, are the most important person in our
career and we never forget it. Our whole business was built with you in mind. Our service isn’t for everyone,
only those who value their time and want:
• Service competence at all levels
• Unsurpassed honesty, integ- rity and consideration
• Ease of doing business
• Punctual service
• Informed choices
Make us an elite service provider today! With our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, we will do everything
to make you happy and proud to call us your plumber. That’s our pledge, and we’ll honor it.
