Washing Machine Check Up

Just recently my washer machine broke. Everything had been just fine last week, no strange noises, all the water came and went as it was supposed to, and my clothes were clean. To suddenly find that the water did not go where it was supposed to was slightly alarming. I did the logical thing and put “Spin” on the little dial. Big mistake. More water came, and it still had nowhere to go.

I always thought washer machines were impossible to break. I found the big piece of metal to be so intimidating, I never did a check up. That was my first mistake.

No matter how good you are with plumbing or hooking up your machines, there can always be a problem.

Constantly checking in, opening your washer without the intent of putting clothes in it, can help you in a long run. Nearly everyone knows to clean out the lint from the lint tray, perfect. That is the first thing you need to do to help your machinery to stay in perfect condition.

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Another big one is time. Do not leave your clothes sitting in the washer for too long. Wash it, then put it in the dryer. Letting it sit can lead to bad odor, and even get to the point of growing mold. Before you close the lid for another week to pass before you need to wash, make sure you do not see any mold growing.

washing machine smell

Once a month check the connection of everything. Make sure you do not have any broken pipes, or worn out parts. Make sure your washer is leveled, having it at even a slightly crooked level will cause it to shake when it is working, which can lead to it banging itself or damaging wires.

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You should also try and clean your washer. Just because it makes your clothes clean does not mean it is clean. Some washers have certain detergent to clean it, and if all else fails, getting a wet towel can help.

Keeping an eye on your machines can be tedious, and even intimidating, but oh so worth it. Because of my inability to pull the washer out and do a little check up, I now have to buy a new washer. Do not do the same mistakes I have, constantly check on it and clean it.
Hopefully you will not have to buy a new one for a very very long time.

 

Noisy Faucets?

Noisy Faucets are annoying. I know. A lot of times you learn to live with it and simply get used to hearing the annoying sound in the middle of the night. If you are like me and cannot stand the sound, here is what you have to do to find where it is coming from and or why it is happening:

 

  1. Aerator

The aerator is the film that is behind the faucet drain. If a lot of minerals build up, you could have a leaky sink. To see if this is the cause, screw off the tap and run the water with ought the filter. If there is no longer a sound, you just have to go buy a new filter and install it.

 

2) Washers

A washer that has been in use for too long, or was incorrectly installed, and even if the size is incorrect, they could be the reason you can not sleep at night. To replace the old washer, turn off the water supply and take your faucet apart. Once you take off the handles, swap of hte washers for the new perfect fit ones.

 

3) Pressure

If your water pressure is too high, it could not only damage your equipment, it could be the reason for all the noise. Test your water pressure by getting a water gauge. If it is over 80 psi can be a problem. If this is what you get, try installing a pressure regulator on your main water line.

 

4) New

Whenever you get an older home, there can be a lot of debris and pollen around the house. The pipes are no exception. Getting a new plumbing system can be very complicated and dangerous, getting a plumber could sometimes be cheaper then accidentally ruining your house.

 

Sometimes the smallest of sounds can mean the biggest of problems. Contacting  your local plumber can be a much safer route if you do not believe you are capable of fixing it, or if you can’t seem to find the source of the sound.

Mildew and Mold? How About No!

Mildew and Mold? How About No!

 

No matter how clean you are, mold can occur anywhere. Even hotels have had problems with mildew being found in their bathrooms, and trust me, hotels are very, very, clean places. Any damp places such as basements and bathrooms can grow these fungi, if it goes unnoticed, a row of problems can occur.

 

Are They Different?

When trying to get rid of theme you need to know what you have before you can do anything. Mildew is a light powder like film that is white or grey. Mold on the other hand is a lot darker with black, green, or brown colours. Not only that, it tends to build up making it look fuzzy.

 

Health Issues.

Even a healthy person can get respiratory problems when it comes to being near mold or mildew. The  real problem are sick people, if someone already has respiratory problems, being around either of the fungi can cause fatal damage to their health.

 

Scrub, Scrub, Scrub

As ugly and intimidating these fungi may seem, they are relatively easy to clean. Get a soft-bristled sponge, mix bleach and some water in a spray bottle and away we go. Spray the diluted bleach onto the affected area, let it sit for ten minutes, then scrub.

 

Where Is It Coming From?

If you are constantly cleaning mildew and mold in your bathroom, it’s okay. These fungi are their strongest in damp places, the only way to stop them is by constant cleaning (sorry). Now, if you get it somewhere that isn’t damp, get worried. It can mean that you have a leak that’s letting rain water get in later allowing for mold to build up.

 

Is It Too Much?

If you have yet to find a source, or you find a leak, ask for help. Call a plumber or your maintenance office. No matter how embarrassing or how little the problem is, these people are happy to help. Besides, its better safe than sorry!

Do these 5 things before going on vacations!

As the summer drags on, many leave for vacation. As you make sure to have everything to be able to enjoy your vacation to the fullest, doing these little tips will allow you to not only save money boy not to have to worry about anything happening to your house.

 

  • Turn off your water. If a pipe were to break, no one would be home to fix it allowing the water to run and run.With keeping it off not only are you saving money, you are preventing a catastrophe.
  • Stop the ice. If you have an automatic ice machine, leaving it on for a week or even a weekend without anyone using any can lead to too much ice. As the ice piles up, not only could the machine cloog up, you could be wasting water, and money.
  • Disconnect. When you leave to a tropical island and “disconnect” from the world, you should do the same to any or all things plugged into the wall. Doing so can save you a lot bill wise. Not only that, if water were to somehow get in, nothing will get fried.
  • It’s getting hot in here. As the days get longer, and the heat gets hotter, the only thing you want to do is pray the AC will never break. Leaving the AC on for however many days could be very damaging. If it gets too cold, the machine could get ice to build up potential ruining it, and the bill would be off the charts! Before you leave, program it or leave it at about 70*F
  • Clean up. Before you leave, make sure you get rid of any perishable items, or anything that’s close to expiring. In doing so you can prevent any mold from appearing and you won’t attract any unwanted pest. Also, take out the trash before you leave! If you leave anything there, it will stay there for a very long time, and you don’t want to get home to such a foul smell.

 

Having fun in the sun is great, but it’s even better when you don’t have to worry about anything. Even better, with the money you’re saving, you can spend even more on your vacation! Have fun, and stay safe!

What to avoid when using the disposal…

The ability to get rid of the smallest bits of food that fall through the drain is many times a luxury most people take for granted. As small food particles pile up, it can rote and the selling point of the garbage disposal is lost. Most people tend to simply let things down the drain to prevent it from rotting in the trash. If you are not careful, not only could the odor leak, but it could also damage your system. Here you will find simple tips on how to prolong your disposal’s life.

 

Don’t Grind

  •  Large bones
  • Any peels that belong to starchy foods (Potato peels, Banana peels)
  • Coffee grounds or Egg shells
  • Fat or Grease
  • Fibrous Vegetables (Asparagus, Celery)
  • Any absorbent food (Pasta, Rice)
  • What you can do to help
  • Grind small bones
  • Grind up some ice to keep the blades sharp
  • Grind up orange or lemon peels to give it a better smell
  • Dispose of biodegradable food to help with clogging
  • Grind citrus peels to help deodorize the disposal machine
  • Pour ½ a cup of baking soda then a cup of vinegar to clean it (Recommended to do it once a month)
  • Actually use your disposal machine, if it is left dormant it is more likely to get clogged, corrosion, and odor
  • When using it, do not run hot water. It will melt the fat which will then lead to clogging.

 

With these simple tips, your disposal machine will be in top shape, keeping your sink nice and pretty while saving you money. If a problem ever becomes too great, do not hesitate to call us to help solve any and all problems.

6 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Doing Plumbing Yourself

Sometimes you can find yourself in between hiring a Professional Plumber or do-it yourself and fix the plumbing problem you may have at home or work. If you know what you’re doing you can save yourself and your company some more on repair bills by taking care of small problems on your own. But if you are insecure on having the knowledge to fix it please don’t hesitate to contact a professional plumbing company.

Before you start working on your plumbing consider these common mistakes and try to avoid them…

 

  • Leaving the water on during repairs: If there’s one cardinal rule to follow when undertaking a plumbing repair, it’s to turn the water off before you begin. Either switch off the main shutoff valve where the water enters your home, or close the localized valves that are found near your sinks and toilets. Failure to stop the water supply can lead to a huge mess when the water comes gushing out at full pressure of whatever pipe you just loosened.

  • Being careless with the soldering torch: Soldering pipes together isn’t necessarily a difficult job, but it can be a dangerous one. When you break out the torch, make sure to protect any flammable areas near your work space, and never set the torch down unattended when the flame is turned on.

  • Flushing trash down the toilet: It can be tempting to use the toilet as a garbage can, but you should never flush anything but toilet paper and human waste. Sending trash or other bathroom products down the drain can clog your pipes in a hurry, and potentially cause the toilet to overflow in a nasty and hazardous mess.

  • Putting grease into the sink drain: Cleaning up bacon grease can be annoying, and it seems easy enough to just wash it right down the sink. Bad idea. That fat and grease can clog your drain badly enough to force you to call a plumber. Plumbing works best when it’s well cared for – not abused with grease.

  • Leaving exposed pipes in the winter: When the temperatures drop below freezing, the pipes in your home should be protected by your heating system. But any plumbing that goes through unheated parts of your home or is exposed to the outdoors is liable to freeze, and possibly burst. Make sure you drain your irrigation system and insulate any pipes that could be at risk before you have to deal with a frigid flood.

  • Refusing to ask for help: Sometimes, you just need to know when to surrender and call in a plumber. Plumbing work can be tricky, and even jobs that look like they should be simple can produce serious complications.

 

Let Us Do It Right! 

If you aren’t sure if you can handle the job yourself, remember it is always better to call professionals with the experience to help you get everything repaired at a fair price. For more Info about our services please contact us.