· 3 min read
Getting outdoor faucets and sprinklers ready for winter
One frozen outdoor faucet can split a pipe inside the wall. A half hour in October prevents the most common winter plumbing repair in Rockland County.
Plumbing tips
Practical guides for the plumbing problems Rockland County homeowners run into most.
· 3 min read
Why your toilet flushes weakly, and how to get the power back
A toilet that needs two flushes is rarely a blocked drain. Usually it is a low tank level, a clogged rim, or a flapper that closes too soon. All three are easy to fix.
· 2 min read
The water heater is leaking: where the water comes from, and whether it is the end
Water around the water heater has five common sources. Two are minor. One means the heater is finished. Here is how to tell which you have, and what to do about each.
· 3 min read
Water hammer: why the pipes bang when a tap closes, and how to stop it
A thud in the wall when the washing machine or a faucet shuts off is water hammer. It stresses joints and valves, and it can usually be cured in an afternoon.
· 3 min read
Steam radiator air vents: the small part that makes the whole radiator work
If a steam radiator stays cold, hisses without stopping or spits water, the air vent is usually the reason. Replacing one costs little and takes ten minutes.
· 3 min read
A sewer smell in the house: the five usual causes
That drain smell in the basement or a spare bathroom is almost always a dry trap, and the cure is a glass of water. Here are the five causes, from the harmless to the serious.
· 3 min read
Septic system basics for Rockland County homes
A good many Rockland houses are on septic, not sewer. A septic system is simple, and it lasts for decades with a few habits, a pumping schedule, and knowing the warning signs.
· 3 min read
Why the water heater's relief valve drips, and what an expansion tank does
A dripping relief valve is the water heater telling you the pressure is too high. Often the cure is a small tank on the cold water pipe. Here is what is going on.
· 3 min read
Leaving the house empty: a plumbing checklist before a trip
The worst plumbing disasters happen to empty houses, because nobody is there to close a valve. Ten minutes before you leave removes most of the risk.
· 3 min read
No hot water: the checks to make before you call anyone
When the hot water stops, the cause is often something you can see and sometimes something you can fix. Work through these checks first, in order, for gas and electric heaters.
· 3 min read
Low water pressure: how to work out what is causing it
Weak water at one tap has a different cause from weak water everywhere. A few simple checks tell you which, and whether it is a five-minute fix or a job for a plumber.
· 3 min read
A leak under the sink: finding where it comes from and fixing it
Water in the cabinet under a sink comes from one of four places. Work out which, and most of the fixes take a wrench and ten minutes.
· 3 min read
How to bleed a hot water radiator
A radiator that is warm at the bottom and cold at the top has air in it. Letting the air out takes two minutes and a small key, and it is the first thing to try every autumn.
· 3 min read
Frozen pipes: how to thaw them safely, and how to prevent them
A tap that gives a trickle on a bitter morning usually means a frozen pipe. Here is how to thaw it without starting a fire or bursting it, and how to stop it happening again.
· 3 min read
How to fix a running toilet
A toilet that runs all night can waste hundreds of gallons a day. The cause is nearly always one of three cheap parts, and the repair needs no special tools.
· 3 min read
How to find your main water shut-off valve, before you need it
When a pipe bursts, the first minute matters most. Find the valve that turns off all the water to your house today, test it, and label it.
· 3 min read
How to clear a clogged drain without harsh chemicals
Most blocked sinks and tubs can be cleared in fifteen minutes with a plunger or a plastic drain strip. Here is what works, what does not, and the signs of a bigger problem.
· 3 min read
A weak or spluttering shower: clean the head, or replace it
Most disappointing showers are caused by mineral scale in the shower head, not by the plumbing. Cleaning it takes an hour of soaking; replacing it takes ten minutes.
· 3 min read
A stain or drip on the ceiling: is it plumbing or the roof?
A wet patch on a ceiling can come from a pipe, a bathroom above, or the roof. A few observations tell them apart, and each has a different first step.
· 3 min read
The boiler pressure gauge: what it should read, and what to do when it does not
A hot water boiler runs at a set pressure. Too low and the upstairs goes cold; too high and the relief valve opens. The gauge tells you which, and one of them you can fix.
Need a professional?
Some jobs are not for a weekend. Here is how to find a plumber near you in Rockland County and check the license before work starts.