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Plumbing emergencies can cause even the most steadfast homeowner to crack, but metroplex residents need look no further than Best Pick Reports to find a Dallas plumbing company that can make things copacetic. Before you call in a professional, it’s important to have a basic understanding of some common plumbing problems.
Being able to describe the plumbing problem you're experiencing will save you and your plumbing professional time and energy when diagnosing the proper repair. Pay attention to the sounds, smells, and behavior of plumbing fixtures, water levels, and visible pipes around your home and take notes for future reference.
One of the more frequent troubles is a clogged drain. For toilets, homeowners can often clear the clog with a plunger and a little bit of elbow grease. Some difficult clogs, however, will require a plumber to use an auger, or snake, to break it up. Grease clogs are another ordinary type of clog that usually occurs in the two-inch drainpipe connecting the kitchen sink to the main, four-inch drainpipe that handles toilet waste and leads to the sewer. Because washing machines force water into the same two-inch drainpipe, a grease clog is frequently misdiagnosed as a clogged washing-machine drain line.
Another common plumbing problem is the maddening dripping faucet. More than simply an audible annoyance, leaky faucets slowly and steadily add to your monthly water bill. These are usually caused by simple wear and tear. Various faucet designs shut off water flow differently, so any number of components can be the cause of the faucet drip. An expert plumber will be able to find the cause and solution to the problem in no time.
If you are not entirely certain of the origin of your plumbing problem, call one of the Dallas plumbing specialists below for expert knowledge and service. Our unbiased research uncovered the plumbing companies local homeowners rely on most of all. Like any contractor working at the home, plumbers should carry liability insurance. All Dallas plumbing companies featured in Best Pick Reports carry such insurance, so choosing one of those companies will save you from a needless flood of worry.
The EPA estimates that the average American home can shave a third off its yearly water bill by using just a few products that meet the WaterSense standard of efficiency. Since its introduction in 2006, the WaterSense program has helped save consumers virtually nine billion dollars and has conserved nearly half a trillion gallons of water. More and more products with the WaterSense label debut every year—over 8,000 in 2012 alone—and that means there are plenty of ways to make WaterSense work for you.
Replacing your kitchen and bath faucets with WaterSense-labeled products can cut as many as 400 gallons of water from your bills per year. Keep in mind that WaterSense-approved products have to operate just like—or better than—their non-efficient counterparts, so they work and act the same as the products you’re used to.
Here’s another cost-saving tip: check to see if a WaterSense-approved aerator is compatible with your current faucet. With an investment of a just a few dollars and a few minutes of your time, you might be able to see big savings in your water bill.
Toilets account for a staggering percentage of a home’s water use—upwards of 30 percent—so switching to a WaterSense-approved model can save you big time. That translates into thousands of dollars of savings over the lifetime of the toilet and a big reduction in water waste in your home. Don’t be scared if you dealt with an early low-flow model and were unimpressed, as these new WaterSense-labeled toilets combine function with efficiency.
Showers also account for a big chunk of any water bill—the average showerhead unleashes two-and-a-half gallons of water per minute—and swapping an inefficient showerhead with a WaterSense-labeled replacement can save you money in water usage and in water-heating bills.
The EPA estimates that a typical household can save nearly 3,000 gallons of water per year, plus hundreds of kilowatt hours of power. What does that mean for you in the long run? It means more money saved and less water wasted. Remember that to have a WaterSense label, a product must be at least 20 percent more efficient in its water and energy usage than the average product of its type.
Lush grass, vibrant flowers, and healthy trees and shrubs are all big visual components of a landscape’s beauty, but keeping all those plants and trees green and healthy is where we use a lot of water—about nine billion gallons annually—and also where we spend a lot of money.
The EPA estimates that as much as half of those nine billion gallons is wasted due to overwatering as a result of inefficient outdoor irrigation systems. WaterSense-approved irrigation controllers take into account many factors that a simple timer can’t.
From weather patterns to landscape conditions, these high-tech systems will make sure you cut down on wasted water and money while keeping your yard the envy of the neighborhood.
As if all these new, efficient products weren’t already saving you money, there’s a bonus: you might be eligible for a rebate from your utility or municipality if you purchase a WaterSense product. Check with the manufacturer or visit the EPA’s WaterSense web page to see if your product qualifies.