F.A.Q A few frenquently asked questions about toilets, water heaters and faucets

	Toilets

If you have a problem toilet that always seems to clog, run (leak), lack flushing power or if you need any sort of toilet repair or replacement, Roto-Rooter's licensed plumbing specialists can solve the problem.

Clogs

Is there a more helpless feeling than when a toilet won't flush? Water rises in the bowl and begins spilling onto the floor as panic sets in. If a toilet requires plunging on a regular basis, there is probably an obstruction in the trap or further down the drainpipe. It may even be a symptom of a bigger problem farther down the sewer line. We're experts at dealing with clogged toilets.

Running toilets

If you hear water running in your toilet tank for extended periods after a flush, then your toilet is leaking. It is dumping water down the overflow tube and wasting up to 200 gallons of water daily. The problem may be a corroded overflow pipe or flush valve assembly. Sometimes the culprit is a worn out flapper valve. Stop jiggling the handle and call Roto-Rooter. Chances are you'll save enough money on your next few water bills to cover the cost of the plumbing repair.

How old and inefficient is your toilet?

If your toilet was manufactured before 1994, it is probably costing you a fortune in water. Most older toilets used 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf). Newer low-flow toilets use only 1.6 gallons per flush and the newest low-flow designs provide the same amount of flushing power as old 3.5 gallon models. A Roto-Rooter plumber can install an efficient new toilet that will conserve water and save you money month after month.

There are many new environmentally-friendly toilet designs that go even further to save water. Some designs have a dual flushing system which uses only 0.9 gallons to flush liquid waste but all 1.6 gallons to flush solid waste. You are welcome to purchase a toilet from the store of your choice then seek our plumbing services to have it installed. Or we can provide you with options before delivering and installing the toilet you want.

Facts:

• When toilets flush in the northern hemisphere, the water circulates clockwise in the bowl while toilets in the southern hemisphere circulate counter-clockwise due to Coriolis Effect caused by the rotation of the Earth.

• Toilets flush the direction they do because of the manufacturer's design. The Coriolis Effect is a real force but it does not impact toilets or sinks.

• According to the World Toilet Organization the average person uses the toilet six to eight times a day or 2,500 times per year. That translates to three years of someone's life spent using the toilet.

• 24 hour plumbing, the company that makes more plumbing service calls than all other plumbing companies, repairs more than 75,000 toilets per year.

Water Heaters

Our plumbers know all about conventional gas or electric water heaters as well as newer tankless (on- demand) water heaters. Don't stress over water heater repairs, 24 hour plumbing will take plumbing problems off your back. You may purchase a water heater through us or pick up one from the supplier of your choice and hire 24 hour plumbing to install it.

Life Expectancy

A conventional water heater should last about 11 years, tankless heaters have a life expectancy of 15-20 years. Hard water will shorten the life, regular maintenance will prolong it.

Efficiency

Tankless heaters are considered more energy efficient than conventional heaters because they don't have to continually heat a tank of water. Tankless heaters heat water instantly whenever a hot water tap is opened. But not all conventional heaters are created equally. The most heavily insulated models like the Marathon® brand rival tankless heaters for efficiency and require no special modifications to your power supply, gas lines or ventilation.

Is your water heater too hot?

To reduce the risk of scalding and to avoid the risk of running out of hot water, most plumbing companies, including 24 hour plumbing recommend a temperature setting of 120°-125° F.

Be safe

Always keep safety in mind when it comes to water heaters. Never store paints, solvents or combustibles near the unit due to the obvious risk of fire.

Video Camera Line Inspection

Video cameras have become one of the most valuable tools in the plumbing business. Specially made fiber optic cameras allow for a visual inspection of underground sewer lines and other piping to determine the condition of the inside of the pipe. A flexible rod with a high-resolution video camera on its tip is inserted into the pipe for inspection. Video images are transmitted to the camera operator and can be saved onto a videotape for a permanent record. Radio transmitters on the camera record the depth and physical location from the surface so that defects and obstructions can be corrected cost effectively. Video cameras have also been used to locate lost jewelry and other valuables, as well as animals that have become lost or trapped in pipes. Sample Images from Video Camera Line Inspections Badly Damaged Pipe Crushed Pipe Broken Pipe Punctured Pipe Offset Joint Tree Roots

	Faucets & Sinks

24 hour plumbing skilled plumbers can handle any faucet repair or replacement whether part of a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, bathtub, shower, wet bar, laundry room, water shut-off valves or even an outdoor hose bib. Faucets contain moving parts and they break and wear out over time. Out of all of the plumbing companies in North America nobody repairs and replaces more faucets than 24hr Plumbing. We can also solve any sink clog; repair or replace an existing sink or install a new one wherever you need it, whether in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or bar.

How to turn off the water supply if your faucet breaks It happens. Faucets break, sometimes violently, and water begins spewing all over the wall and floor. Don't panic! Look beneath the sink for the water shut-off valves. There is a cold water shut-off valve and a hot water shut-off valve. They're usually chrome with a small oval valve handle. Turn the handles clockwise until the water stops pouring out of the faucet. Sometimes water shut-off valves freeze up from lack of use. If it won't budge, get a pair of pliers and slowly turn the knob back and forth until the rubber seat inside loosens. Don't force it all at once or it could break and cause bigger plumbing problems. If the valve spins freely and won't turn the inner seat, tighten the set screw on the face and try again. Once the valve is moving, turn off the water and call 24hr Plumbing