Las Vegas Plumbing Repair Question: Why Does My Tub Faucet Leak when the Shower Is On?

April 2nd, 2012

Here is a common and yet seemingly complex Las Vegas plumbing problem for you. You turn on your shower, flip the switch to go from tub faucet to shower head and the tub faucet continues to leak. Not only is it rather irritating, but it draws from the water pressure in the shower head. Let’s take a look at why this happens and how to quickly fix it.

Why the Leak?

There is a valve in your tub’s faucet that diverts water from the tub to the shower head when the switch or lever is pulled to turn on your shower. Because the valve is not a perfect seal, the tub faucet will drip a small amount during a shower. However, if a large amount of water is coming out of the tub faucet and very little is coming from your shower head, it is likely a problem with that valve.

In some cases, the only way to know the root of the problem is to take apart the assembly and check all of the valve parts individually for damage. The specifics of the plumbing repair process will depend largely on the type of shower and diverter valve you have.

 Fixing the Problem

To fix this problem, you can either replace part of or the entire shower diverter valve. Start by removing the faucet and pulling the screw that holds the shower diverter valve in place. Once the screw is removed, take out the rubber washer and replace it. Many times, this is enough to fix the problem.

If it is not, however, you may need to replace the entire shower diverter valve. There are some situations that make it hard to reach the shower diverter valve, such as when you have a shower handle instead of a faucet knob. If this is the case, you may need special tools or professional assistance in removing the knob to access the valve.

If you find that this does not fix the problem or that you are uncomfortable attempting this repair, contact a Las Vegas plumber who is experienced all bathroom plumbing, such as Yes! Air Conditioning & Plumbing!

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The Root of the Problem – Why Some Sewer Lines Get Blocked in Las Vegas?

March 27th, 2012

Have you ever had to fix a blocked sewer line?  Well if you have, you are familiar with the nightmare that Las Vegas drain and sewer maintenance can be.  Sewer lines are comprised of incredibly tough components for a purpose: mostly because we collectively want to keep their contents inside. So, when a sewer line gets blocked and starts backing up or seeping — or even cracks under the stress — it can be a real mess.

If you have never had encountered a sewer line block, count yourself lucky.

Whichever category you fall into, it is important to know about causes of sewer blocks lie, so that you have an idea what you are up against should you ever encounter (another) one, as well as being able to take some reasonable prevention measures. Read on to learn about some of the common culprits that block up sewer lines.

Flushed Objects

The most preventable common cause of a blocked sewer line is the flushing of objects that should not be flushed. Sewer lines are not meant to handle solid objects like diapers, sanitary napkins or other garbage, so if these get flushed down the toilet — either intentionally or by accident — it can cause an ugly block.

Even smaller objects or bits of debris that seem to move fine through the sewer line can build up over time to cause a block. Paper towels, hair, grease or dirt can collect on the walls of the line and cause a block as well.

Tree Roots

It may seem like nothing happens beneath the ground of our lawns, where the sewer line runs. In fact, there is quite a bit of life going about its business under there, including the root systems of the trees in your yard. These roots can grow right into your sewer line, infiltrating it and causing a blockage.

Defect

The last main cause of a sewer link blockage is shoddy materials. Although sewer lines are meant to be made of high quality material because of the stress they perform under, it is still possible for one to collapse or bulge with use.

If Repairing a blocked sewer line is what you need to do, it’s best to call Yes! Plumbing for assistance. To avoid having to make that call, the best thing you can do as a homeowner is keep solid objects from being flushed down into the sewer line. It can save you a huge headache later on.

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Yes! Plumbing Helps Channel 8 News with Fix A Leak Week

March 21st, 2012

Did you know that those small leaks in your toilet, kitchen sink, or outdoor faucet can contribute to 10,000 gallons of wasted water in your home each year?  In order to raise awareness that household water leaks are a national problem, the Environmental Protection Agency  made this week Fix A Leak Week.  Dennis Thompson from Yes! Plumbing walks Sherry Swensk from Channel 8 News through a typical home to show viewers common leaks that could be affecting anyone’s plumbing.  Click on the video below to watch Dennis display where leaks occur and how to address them.

Throughout the video Dennis and Cherry discus how to identify leaks and easy ways of correcting them.  Here are a few images of areas that need plumbing maintenance throughout the home.

These are images from the Fix A Leak report on Channel 8.  Dennis and Sherry go over how to detect leaks occurring in your toilet, and how to fix them.  They also review how to fix common faucet problem in the kitchen and bathroom.  Dennis also points out an interesting fact that water used in most homes throughout the Las Vegas desert contains heavy minerals, causing this tap water to become hard water.  This hard water will contribute to the deterioration of pipes and plumbing fixtures throughout a home at an increases rate.  This abuse from hard water will increase home’s chances for springing a leak.

This final image is of a home’s water meter.  Dennis from Yes! Plumbing discusses how to detect if you have water leaks just by looking at this.  After you turn off all your water using appliances check your water meter and if the white triangle in the center of it is still spinning, that will indicate that you have a leak somewhere in your house.  If you have any questions about how to follow up on this test please call Yes! Plumbing for more information.

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Yes! Plumbing is the Proud Sponsors of the Northwest Girls Softball Team, The Warriors!

March 16th, 2012

A few weeks ago the Northwest Girls Softball legue started, and Yes! Plumbing was lucky enough to become proud sponsors of the talented team, The Warriors!  The Warriors are the most energetic team in the league, with the biggest hearts.  They are off to a great start with a big win, and are now tied for 3rd place.  The whole Yes! Plumbing family has great hopes for these very talented girls.  Check out these skills:

If you get a chance head over to the website for the Northwest Girls Softball League to check out their schedule.  Games are held at the Majestic Fields throughout the week, so come and show your support any time you are close.  The schedule can be found here.

Good Luck Warriors!

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Yes! Plumbing is Offering $200 Off High Efficiency Tankless Water Heater

March 15th, 2012

At Yes! Plumbing we want to help you save money, and the environment, by helping you invest in a high efficiency water heater.  The water heaters that we are offering for $200 off have been graded by the nationally run organization STAR, so they must meet very high standards in energy conservation.  Not only will Yes! Plumbing save you money on your purchase of the water heater, but this highly efficient water heater will save you money for years to come.

Did you know that water heaters consume 15% of a home’s energy usage?  Did you also know that the high efficiency water heaters use 10% to 50% less energy than standard models?  That means that after installing a STAR rated water heater you will be saving hundreds, if not thousands of dollars every year.  This is a deal that will only be available until the end of April, so please consider taking advantage of this deal from Yes! Plumbing before it is too late.

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Why is the Garbage Disposal in My Las Vegas Home “Humming”?

March 7th, 2012

Ah, the garbage disposal: one of the greatest conveniences and frustrations of a Las Vegas kitchen. When it is working well, it seems like few things could be better than this magic machine that whisks away our gross garbage. But when it is on the fritz, there is nothing more annoying.

One common occurrence is the “humming” garbage disposal. You flip the switch to turn the disposal on, but instead of spinning up and sucking those coffee grounds away, it just makes a humming noise and doesn’t do anything. Definitely frustrating. The good news is that since it is making that humming noise, you may be in OK shape. Read on further kitchen plumbing tips.

There are two basic causes of the humming phenomenon. Let’s discuss the simpler one first.

Stuck Flywheel

Most of the time, the problem is as simple as a stuck flywheel. Usually this problem is identified by the brevity of the humming sound, as the garbage disposal will either reset itself or the circuit breaker will trip and the whole thing will shut down.

To fix a stuck flywheel, follow these steps:

  1. Shut down the power to the garbage disposal by shutting of the circuit breaker or pulling the fuse.
  2. Using an offset wrench (it came with the disposal unit, but you can buy a replacement at the hardware store), turn the flywheel clockwise to dislodge it.
  3. For a no-wrench fix, stick a wooden broom handle down the drain and into the disposal, then use that to manually turn the blades.

If the problem is just a stuck flywheel, that should take care of it. However, there is another, more sinister explanation for the humming sound.

Seized Motor Bearing

If your efforts to free the flywheel did not get the disposal working again, then you may have a seized motor bearing on your hands. A disposal with a seized motor bearing needs to be replaced. It’s as simple as that.

However, before you go ahead and assume the worst, it would not hurt to have a professional look at it. It is possible that the flywheel is just quite stuck and needs the touch of a pro. If not, call Yes! Air Conditioning & Plumbing, and we can go ahead and install a new unit for you.

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Yes! Plumbing Offers $500 Off Premium Whole House Filtration System With Installation

March 5th, 2012

Starting this month and going until the end of April, Yes Plumbing will be offering $500 off premium whole house filtration system with installation.  Installing a whole house filtration system allows residents to stop being concerned about the quality of the water they clean, prepare food with, and drink.  These filtration systems will purify water of metals, debris and sediment.  By clearing your water of these pollutants you will not only improve the quality of your water, but you will also save your plumbing from the harmful effects of metals and sediment.

Call today to get your water tested by our trained technicians at Yes! Air Conditioning & Plumbing.

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What Spring Valley Residents Need to Know About Point of Use Water Heaters

February 28th, 2012

For years, most Spring Valley residents have used the same system to heat their water. A single tank that heats and stores water at a set temperature for whenever it is needed. That system, as well as it works, is not very efficient, and with costs for gas and oil rising so much in recent years, many people are looking for better ways to heat their water.

That’s where point of use water heating comes in. These tankless water heaters are designed to heat your water when you need it heated instead of filling a tank of 50 or 60 gallons and heating it continuously even when you don’t.

How Point of Use Water Heaters Work

A point of use water heater works by directly heating the water supply to a single fixture. So, you would install a point of use water heater on your kitchen sink and only one water supply pipe would go to that heater. When you turn on the hot water faucet, the point of use heater would turn on (using electricity) and heat your water to 170 degrees F.

These devices only work on a single fixture at a time but they are much less expensive to purchase than a whole house tankless hot water system. Additionally, you can control where hot water is available.

The Advantages of Point of Use Hot Water

A tank hot water system can cost hundreds of dollars of year extra to run, especially if your family doesn’t use much hot water. Imagine what happens if you have four children that go off to college. Your “just big enough” tank suddenly becomes way too big and your bill stays unnecessarily high.

Point of use heaters allow you to decide where hot water is available and have instantly available hot water as you need it. The cost of the units and installation is affordable for most homeowners and you don’t have to commit to a whole house system if you are not ready.  If you have any questions about this topic please call Yes! Air Conditioning & Plumbing

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Troubleshooting Plumbing Problems in Mountains Edge

February 22nd, 2012

Plumbing may seem like a complex mystery for most Mountains Edge residents, but some common plumbing problems you can investigate yourself before calling in a plumber. Read on to see how.

Drainage Difficulties

Drains that don’t work right are a drag. Whether it’s a slow drain, a backed up drain, strange gurgling sounds emanating from a drain or unexplained wet spots on the lawn along the path of a drainage pipe, no one wants to deal with a messy drainage debacle.

However, if you are experiencing one of those problems, here are some steps to try in order to get to the bottom of it:

  1. Explore the extent of the problem. If it is just your kitchen sink that runs slowly or backs up, then you know it is localized, but if all your toilets are backing up, then that is probably a different kind of problem.
  2. If there is just one offending drain — as in the kitchen sink example — flush it with boiling water and/or white vinegar should be all the kitchen plumbing you will need. If necessary, you can also try a commercial drain clearing product.
  3. With a more general plumbing problem, it helps to determine the route along which the water is draining. See if you can figure out where the drain pipes run through your home, which can help you determine if the problem is somewhere along the drainage line.

Wasted Water

Has your water bill gone through the roof lately? This could be due to wasted water that you don’t even know about. Below are some  causes of wasted water and how to determine them.

  1. Dripping faucet or running toilet. This can be pretty obvious because they make noise, so listen up! Especially pay attention if the toilet runs sporadically at unexpected times.
  2. A leaky pipe. This culprit is trickier, so look for signs of water along your base boards, on the floor near plumbing fixtures and underneath sinks.
  3. If you still can’t find the culprit, check your water meter and note the reading. Then check it again in an hour to see how much was used. This piece of information can at lease clue you in to the extent of the problem.

These techniques aren’t foolproof and won’t help you determine 100% of problems, so don’t be afraid to call Yes! Plumbing if need be.

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What Causes Discolored Water for North Las Vegas Residents?

February 20th, 2012

Water discoloration can be troubling, because it makes it seem like your water is unclean. While sometimes discolored water can be cause for concern, other times it has pretty mundane origins, and will only require minor plumbing maintenance.

Check out these common causes of discolored water:

  • Yellow/brown/reddish water is usually caused by rust, either in the water mains that run from the waiter supply or the pipes in your home. If the water is only discolored momentarily when you first turn the water on, it is probably rust in your pipes that gets flushed out quickly. If it persists longer, it may be rust that was stirred up in the water mains. Turn a few of your cold taps on for several minutes, or just turn the tap off and wait about thirty minutes.
  • Water that appears white or cloudy often does so because of trapped air bubbles. Air that is under pressure in your pipes gets released when you turn the tap on, which causes tiny bubbles, just like in a bottle of soda. This has no effect on your water’s quality. The discoloration should dissipate after standing for a few minutes.
  • Sometimes water appears to have a greenish hue, especially when standing under fluorescent light. This is sometimes due to tiny copper traces from the piping in your home, or — depending on the climate — seasonal algae blooms in the local water supply. Either way, this green color is usually harmless.
  • Blue water can occur for a few reasons. One is severe copper corrosion in the plumbing system, which leeches into the pipes. A second cause can be toilet cleaner. If you use a cleaning product in your toilet tank, sometimes that can cause your tap water to turn blue. If you suspect this is the case, do not drink that water and immediately call a local professional to administer a water test. The chemicals in such cleaners can be toxic and hazardous to your health.

Keep in mind that those are some of the most common causes of discolored water. There can be others, and if you are unsure, you should call Yes! Plumbing for assistance.

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