Frequently Asked Questions About Plumbing Problems

Question - Recently my water bills appear to be rather high. None of the faucets appear to leak. What else could contribute to a high water bill?

Answer - You may want to check to see if a toilet is leaking. First, check the water level to ensure that water is not overflowing the tank by way of the overflow pipe. This is the pipe in the middle of the tank. It has a small tubing connected to it. If water is running into the overflow, adjust the fill valve to stop the flow approximately 1inch below the top of the overflow tube or to the water level mark stamped on the side of the tank. Second, put a few drops of food coloring into the tank to test the flush valve mechanism. If the water in the bowl changes color within 15 minutes, this is an indication that water is leaking into the toilet bowl and that the ball or flapper needs to be replaced.

Question - There are four people in our house, two adults and two teens. We are constantly running out of hot water. After a five-minute shower, the water starts to turn cold. This change occurred quite recently. Help!

Answer - There are two possibilities. First, the dip tube has broken off. This is a tube that forces incoming water to the bottom of the tank so that hot water will be drawn off of the top. When the dip tube breaks, cold water entering the tank mixes with the hot water and cools it down. This can occur in both gas and electric models.
Second, if your water heater is electric, the lower element that heats the water may not be operating properly, thus only the upper half of the tank will heat up. The cause of this problem could be a bad element or a thermostat malfunction. This type of problem should be evaluated by a qualified plumbing technician.

Question - What is hard water?

Answer - Hard water is generally defined as having more than 1 GPG (grains per gallon) of dissolved minerals in it (usually calcium, magnesium carbonate, and/or manganese). There is some argument as to what is an "acceptable" level of hardness. For those that have an abundance of water and the income/means to improve their water quality, then it is a relative term as to what constitutes "acceptable" levels of hardness. The judgment ranges from a conservative "Soft water = 0 to 5gpg; Moderately hard water = 5 to 10gpg; Hard = 10 to 20gpg; Very hard = 20+gpg as well as others feel that the following is their standard: Soft Water = 0 to 1.0gpg; Slightly hard = 1.1 to 3.5gpg; Moderately hard = 3.6 to 7.0gpg; Hard water = 7.1 to 10.5gpg; Extremely hard water = 10.6+gpg.

Our own opinion is that an unacceptable level of "hard" water is a relative term and that only you can "know" if the level that you have is acceptable to you. When in doubt, we say, don't get a water softener. If you know and feel that your water is "too hard" and you can afford it, then invest in one to improve your life. We like to recommend a Water Softener when the hardness is 6 grains per gallon or more. At 6 grains of Hardness or above most people can really experience the benefits of soft water. Some who are accustomed to soft water who move to a new area that has water with a hardness as low as 3 or 4 grains will also want a water softener. The water in the greater Phoenix area ranges from 15 to 40gpg.

 

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