Plumbing FAQ

What Causes Pipe Corrosion?

There could be several reasons why your home has corroded pipes. In many cases, the age of the pipes plays a significant role in their degradation. After all, everything has an expiration date. Re-piping services are necessary for more reasons than corrosion. Mineral buildup, pH levels that are too low or high, abnormal oxygen levels, frozen water, and inconsistent water pressure all play roles. Residents of Orem, UT don’t need to worry about many of these things due to climate and proximity to various environmental factors. If you suspect corroded pipes is the issue, Parley’s PPM Plumbing re-pipe experts can tell you if corrosion is the case and why it happened.

I Think I Have a Pipe Leak? How Do I Know For Sure?

It’s easy! If you think you have a leaking pipe, go outside and find the water meter used to measure water usage inside the home the residence and take note of the level. Make sure no one in the house uses any water for a few hours, then go back and check the meter. If the recorded level decreased, there is a leak somewhere in the house. One more tip: The best time to check is after everyone in your home has gone to sleep. Before anyone cooks or showers in the morning, recheck the level. If you notice a decrease, give our experts a call.

What are the hidden dangers of broken pipes?

The biggest issue with a broken pipe is the longer it goes unnoticed, the larger the problem will likely become. Not only do broken pipes waste water, but they also can cause irreversible water damage to your home and foundation. Additionally, any leaking water coming from broken pipes that are not properly managed by a professional plumber can cause mold growth, which is a health hazard to you and your family. PPM Plumbing Draper offers 24-hour plumber services for these types of problems, so don’t wait until it’s too late for a solution!

What is home repiping?

Home repiping is when a plumber installs new incoming hot-and-cold water pipes inside your home to replace the existing galvanized or copper pipes.

Why would someone need home repiping?

Galvanized and copper pipes often fail because they have surpassed their lifespan. When you begin to experience leaks with these types of pipes, it tells us that there will be additional leaks that follow. Finding and repairing each leak as they happen is timely and expensive. A repipe is far less expensive in the long run, and your home will benefit from an up-to-date piping system.

Which type of pipe is best?

While there is no “best pipe award”, PEX piping is installed into most modern homes due to its many advantages over traditional piping systems.

What is PEX?

PEX stands for cross-linked polyethylene. At PPM Plumbing Draper, our plumbing contractors highly recommend this plastic piping to Draper, UT residents because of its cost-effectiveness, durability, and easy installation process.

Is having a metal piping system in my home bad?

Though metal piping systems were all the rage in the past, today there are simply better alternatives. Galvanized pipes are a very outdated type of piping system. They typically show signs of water damage because over long periods, water will begin to eat away at metal. This works to cause leaking. In addition, copper piping has its own issues. Copper pipes are significantly more expensive than other options and are much more complicated to install. Like galvanized pipes, copper can be corroded by water, especially if the water in your specific area is more acidic. Metal piping systems have their fair share of issues, which is why it’s important to contact your local plumbers and take advantage of their maintenance plans and other preventative plumbing services.

Should I Call a Re-Pipe Specialist Near Me for a Leak?

Absolutely. Leaks occur because of corrosion, and corrosion doesn’t stop. The holes in the pipes will only grow more substantial and more frequent throughout the network of piping in your home. If you act quickly, our specialists might only need to replace a portion of your piping. However, waiting might require us to re-pipe the entire house. More importantly, repairing the leak rectifies a lot of common problems associated with pipe leaks. For instance, you’ll experience less water loss and decreased water bills. Your home will be at less risk for water damage, and you might not need to purchase water treatment systems. Give us a call.

What Are the Dangers of Leaky Faucets?

One drop might not seem like much. After all, each of us has heard the saying, just a drop in the bucket. Instead of thinking of a leaky faucet as a mild annoyance, you should consider it an immediate issue. Think about it like this: While ten small drips a minute might not seem like much, those drops add up to 14,400 a day. So even though the amount of wasted water might seem minuscule, our re-piping experts assure you it is not.

Should I Repair Or Replace My Faucet?

Most faucet repairs are simple because the culprit is usually a corroded O-ring, gasket, or valve set. You can replace these items at home. Repairing the faucet isn’t as complicated as you might think. First, shut the water off and open the tap. Doing so enables all the trapped water to drain out. Once you’ve done so, use an Allen wrench or screwdriver to remove the handle. Sometimes there’s a nut or bolt loose which could be causing the issue. However, if those components are too badly ruined, or the faucet contains a cartridge, then it becomes necessary to replace the entire unit.

What Shouldn’t I Flush Down My Toilet?

There are several items you shouldn’t flush down the toilet. Some of the most common clogs occur when homeowners don’t follow these basic rules of thumb. We see a lot of clogs caused by baby wipes, napkins, Kleenex, and paper towels because those items don’t break down as efficiently. They also clog drains and pipes if there are too many of them. Avoid flushing these as well.

• Sanitary products
• Diapers
• Q-Tips
• Cotton balls
• Dental floss
• Hair
• Food scrap
• Small toys
• Cat litter

My Toilet Never Stops Running. Why?

First of all, there are several contributing factors to this problem. Fortunately, Parley’s PPM Plumbing doesn’t necessarily have to re-pipe the entire home or even replace the toilet. Keep in mind, even if the toilet isn’t always making noise, there may still be an issue. To test it, put a drop of food coloring in the tank and avoid using it. After a half-hour elapses, check the bowl. If you see food coloring, then your toilet is leaking somewhere. Most running toilet problems boil down to:

• A cracked float: This is the metal or plastic ball lying at the top of your toilet tank, and it regulates how much water fills the toilet. When it’s cracked, it causes several problems, including overfilling and the endless cycle of filling and draining – creating the constant running problem. Here’s one easy solution: Bend the metal arm that’s attached to the float until the float sits on the water again. If that doesn’t work, give us a call.
• A too-long chain: If the float looks fine, then take a look at the string attached to the handle that flushes the toilet. Pay attention to if it appears trapped under the flap in the toilet tank. If it seems trapped, then it merely needs to be shortened.
• A faulty flapper valve: If the issue doesn’t lie with the float or chain, then the problem is probably caused by a broken or eroded flapper valve. You can locate it at the bottom of the tank. Fortunately, hardware stores carry this part, and you can easily replace it. The old one pops off and on goes the new one.

What causes sewer line failure?

Sewer line problems are relatively uncommon, and can be easily diagnosed as one on the following three issues:

1. Your sewer line has been infiltrated by tree roots
2. Excessive food, grease, or paper products have obstructed your sewer line
3. Your sewer line is simply too old to perform optimally

An inspection by one of our plumbing contractors can tell you the exact cause of your sewer line’s issues.

There’s an awful smell coming from my drains. What could be wrong?

Foul odors coming from your drains are typically a result of your sewer line becoming backed up with an accumulation of waste, food, soap scum, or hair. These types of backups can cause more severe problems and should be addressed by a professional plumber right away.

What Shouldn’t Be Run Through a Garbage Disposal?

Don’t put anything in the garbage disposal the machinery can’t break down. While garbage disposals are an excellent and convenient appliance to have in the kitchen, they do require maintenance and care. Don’t put any of the following items down the disposal:

• Potato skins
• Bone fragments
• Fats and grease
• Popcorn kernels
• Onion skins
• Fruit, skins, or seeds
• Stringy vegetables

If you have a broken garbage disposal, don’t buy a new one yet. Most garbage disposal repair is easy to perform, even for those who don’t work well with their hands. First, turn the disposal off at the power source to protect yourself. Then check to see if anything hard is jamming it. Remove the items and hit the reset button. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, give Parley’s PPM Plumbing a call today.

Why Should I Choose a Tankless Water Heater?

If the time has come to replace your traditional, tank water heater, you can’t do any better than a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters never run out of hot water and produce hot water immediately. They’re also energy-efficient, often resulting in significant reductions in water usage and on the household energy bill. Most importantly, because they provide instant hot water, you’ll no longer have to share hot water with a full house. Sometimes it’s wise to invest in a water softener if you have hard water. Hard water harms tankless water heats just as it does traditional water heaters.

What size tankless water heater is right for my home?

The answer to this question depends on the demands of your household. Think about the following questions:

• How long are my family’s showers?
• How often is our washing machine or dishwasher running?
• Are any of these systems ever running at the same time?

These types of questions will help you assess your current water usage, which will ultimately decide which size tank is right for you and your family’s needs. Once you have a good idea of your general water usage, get in touch with one of our seasoned plumbers for size advice.

Why Does My Hot Water Smell Badly?

Hydrogen, sulfur, and bacteria all play critical roles in creating foul-smelling and unpleasant water in the home. Sulfur and bacteria occur naturally and are needed to run many of the appliances in your house. They won’t make you sick. The odor occurs when the magnesium anode rod in your water heater reacts with these elements. While it has no adverse health effects, the smell isn’t very appealing. One way to resolve the issue is to replace the rod in your water heater. Another is to invest in a water purifier.

Why Are My Pipes Rattling and Clanging?

Usually, this is a sign the contractor who built the house didn’t secure the water lines correctly during construction, or they have come loose over the years. What happens is the pipes rub against the floor joists in the home. Parley’s PPM Plumbing can resolve this issue by tightening the water lines or installing pipe hangers between the pipes and the beams. These solutions eliminate the noises.