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A step-by-step DIY fix.

Even a small faucet leak can waste 3 gallons of water a day, so for the sake of your water bill (and our planet), fix that drip! Call in a plumber, or do it yourself; often, the culprit is a failure of the faucet’s “seats and springs”—a relatively simple DIY fix.

What you’ll need:

1/8-inch Allen wrench
Needle-nose pliers
Tongue-and-groove pliers
Screwdriver
Replacement parts

How to fix it:

1. Shut off the hot and cold water supply valves underneath your sink. Turn on the faucet, and let the last of the water trickle out to completely drain the water lines.

2. To remove the handle, take off the screw cover; use a screwdriver or Allen wrench to remove the screw. Then, lift off the handle.

3. Look at the cap and adjusting ring. If the faucet seems to be leaking from here, try tightening the adjusting ring with needle-nose pliers. If that doesn’t stop the leak, you’ll need to replace the faucet’s seats and springs.

4. Unscrew and remove the adjusting ring. Then, unscrew the dome-shaped cap by placing a cloth over the cap for grip and using tongue-and-groove pliers to unscrew it. Be careful: Don’t use too much pressure to remove the cap or it may bend.

5. Pull out the round metal stem; when you do, you’ll remove the ball, as well as the piece called the “cam and packing.” If yourfaucet’s leaking from here, replacing the cam and packing should resolve the problem.

6. Look into the valve and you’ll see the small mechanism called the “seats and springs.” The “seat” is the small circular part, and the “spring” is beneath the seat. Use the Allen wrench to pry out the seats and springs for both the hot and the cold water.

7. Insert a new set of seats and springs into the holes. Thread one set onto the Allen wrench through the flat side of the seat, then through the skinny end of the spring. Use the wrench to tip the seat and spring into its hole in the valve; repeat with the other set.

8. Replace the ball assembly, aligning the pin and the valve to the slot on the ball.

9. Replace the cam and packing, aligning the tab on the cam with the slot on the valve.

10. Screw the cap on the valve using only your hand. Replace the adjusting ring, and tighten with needle-nose pliers. Reinstall the handle.

11. Turn on the water to ensure you’ve fixed the leak.

Do the instructions still not make any sense to you? Contact us today!

July 31, 2017

Uncategorized

5 Clues That Could Indicate That Your Water Heater Needs to Be Replaced

Like any appliance, water heaters break down over time and need to be replaced. No one enjoys taking a cold shower, so ideally, you’d like to be able to replace your water heater before it completely stops working. If you wait too long, it could lead to a much larger problem. Such as; large leaks and water damage to your home. So how do you know when it’s time for a replacement? Here are a few clues:

Clue #1 Age

The older the water heater, the more likely it is to break down. As a general rule, a tank type water heater will last, on average 8 to 12 years. With proper maintenance and a little luck, you may be able to nearly double the lifespan of your water heater. But sometimes even with the best care, a water heater will need to be replaced after only a few years. However, if your water heater is pushing the 10-year point, there’s a good chance it’s time to replace the unit. If a new water heater is in your future, you may want to consider a tankless model, especially if your household doesn’t have large hot water needs. Tankless units have a considerably longer lifespan, and some manufacturers even offer lifetime warranties against their units from leaking.

Clue #2 Rust and Corrosion

Check your tank for any rust or corrosion. Most hot water tanks are made out of steel and will eventually rust. You may have even noticed rust in your hot water as it is drawn from the tap. If you find rust or corrosion by the temperature and pressure relief valve, and/or the water inlet and outlet connections, it’s a good indication that your tank is rusting and needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, there is not a way to repair a tank once it has started to rust and corrode. If your water heater has not started to leak, it will only be a matter of time. Where your water heater is located within your home may determine your next step. Leaking water can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home. Your best option may be to replace your water heater right away to prevent unnecessary expenses and damage. However, if your tank is located in a garage, you may choose to wait until it begins leaking, as the water damage may be minimal.

Clue#3 Unable to Drain Water Through the Drain Valve

Over time sediment builds and settles inside the bottom of the water heater’s tank. If you have a gas water heater, you may have noticed a popping sound when the burner ignites. However, regardless of the fuel source, sediment build-up is a problem for both electric and gas water heaters. Over time, the sediment build-up will break down the interior of the tank, and it may even clog the drain valve. Flushing your water heater once a year will help prevent damage and extend the life of your water heater.

Clue #4 Your Hot Water Tank is Leaking

A leak from your hot water tank is usually caused by an internal problem and is rarely repairable. In order to prevent further water damage to the room, turn off the water and power to your water heater and call a professional plumber to install a new unit.

Clue #5 Your Water is LukeWarm or Cold

If you find your water isn’t as hot as it once was, or worse, it isn’t hot at all, then something is clearly wrong. There may be a problem with the heating element or the electric thermostat. It’s not uncommon for these parts to fail entirely or simply malfunction over time. Another possible cause is a broken dip tube within the tank. This can cause the outgoing hot water to be diluted by the incoming cold water, resulting in cooler than desired hot water. Or, sometimes it’s simply that your household need for hot water has increased. If this is the case your water heater may be working fine but is no longer able to meet your household hot water demand. In which case, you may want to consider purchasing a new water heater with a larger tank.

Source: Water Heater Leaking Info.

June 30, 2017

Uncategorized

Alarming Water Quality Issues in Minnesota

Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes. In actuality, there are over 11,000. There are also over 6,500 rivers within the state that flow a total of almost 70,000 miles. Our beloved Mississippi River starts up in Lake Itasca and flows 680 miles through the state.

(photo credit: www.onlyinyourstate.com)

These rivers and lakes provide amazing beauty for us all but for many people in the state who rely on these bodies of water for their drinking source, there are some alarming changes happening.

A growing number of Minnesotans are seeing an increased level of nitrates and other contaminates in their drinking water. Over 100,000 Minnesotans in areas all over the state have already had to address the issues with their drinking water and that number continues to grow every year.

The cost of these fixes can range from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars per household depending on the level of contamination and what needs to be done. The city of Hastings, for example, spent $3.5 million to upgrade its treatment facilities to reduce nitrates in its drinking water. Cities such as Hastings are a perfect example of what other cities throughout the state are also seeing. The result is tens of millions of dollars spent annually on the state’s storied lakes and rivers.

So, with all that spending, water quality must be improving, right? No, say multiple state reports. In fact, things are getting worse.

Pollutants from farm and lawn chemicals and local zoning has promoted conversion of forests to cropping and other development that brings ever-increasing runoff of bad stuff. There’s worry over spreading invasive species and even over residue of medicines carelessly flushed down toilets. Climate change even has a hand in this as the seasons slowly continue to get warmer adding to the problems.

(photo credit: www.startribune.com)

Drinking water can be contaminated by man-made chemicals or by natural sources, like heavy metals in rock and soil. Natural waters contain impurities. Most impurities are harmless. However, drinking water that has certain levels of microorganisms, minerals, man-made chemicals, or naturally-occurring pollutants can be harmful to your health.

Minnesota has about 960 community water systems that serve approximately 80% of Minnesota residents. Water from these systems can come from groundwater (water found in underground aquifers, the pores between sand, clay, and rock) or from surface sources (rivers, lakes, and streams). Most systems use groundwater from underground sources tapped by wells.

Though most systems get water from groundwater, about one-fourth of the state’s residents drink water that comes from surface water systems.

About one-fifth of Minnesota residents drink water that comes from private wells.

No matter where you get your water from it’s always important to have your water tested. North Metro Plumbing Services will test your water and get you set up with the proper filters.

Article Sources:
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota Department of Health

Pioneer Press

Star Tribune

May 31, 2017