Kerry’s Question:
My sprayer in the kitchen sink does not have good pressure. Is there something I can do to fix it?
Answer:
If your faucet has good pressure but the sprayer does not it could be the diverter is not working. Try taking off your spout being careful not to scratch the chrome. Inside of your faucet where your spout was is where the diverter is. Try taking the diverter out with whatever will fit depending on the type of faucet. Sometimes you can clean them out with water and tapping them on something. Most of the time it’s best to just replace the diverter for only a couple of dollars. If you have no luck finding the diverter it might be best to replace the faucet.
I can not remove my bathroom sink stopper to clean it. The sink plugs up and I have to use the plunger. Help.
If you’ll look under your sink there is a metal rod sticking out the back of the drain pipe. Loosen the nut that holds the rod in place and move it toward the wall. You should be able to pull out the stopper now.
Why do we run out of hot water during showers?
This could be caused by a number of things. It could be as simple as cutting down your shower time to about ten minutes. However, most plumbing problems are not solved this easily. Most residential electric water heaters have two heating elements that heat the water. If one of these elements has gone bad, it’s possible that your water temperature is not reaching its full temperature. You will need to call Lone Star Plumbing for a true diagnosis. If your water heater is gas, try adjusting the temperature setting. This can be done by turning the dial on the front of the heater control valve. This will increase the temperature in the tank, allowing for less use of hot water at the point of use. Caution: adjusting the temperature above the manufacturers’ specific recommendation could cause severe burns.
My toilet keeps running even after replacing the inside parts. What should I do?
Some of the repair parts for toilets are universal but not all. First, make sure that the parts you buy will work in place of the old ones. After new parts are installed and your toilet still runs try watching the inside of the bowl to see if any water is draining, if so then your flapper is not seating properly allowing water to escape. You might try another flapper. Second, if your fill valve is not shutting off at all, there may be some debris trapped in the shut off mechanism of the valve. It’s usually best to call Lone Star Plumbing to fix this.
Our water bill was high this month. How do I check for a leak?
If you have a water meter, the easiest thing to do is check your meter while all water is turned off to see if there is any movement by either the red indicator arm or the black triangle in the center of the glass. Watch closely this may be hard to see.
If you see movement at the meter and there are no visible signs of water outside the house then it may be under your house. If you have a pier and beam house find your access hole and shine a flashlight around underneath, you should be able to see water if there is a leak; if you are on a concrete foundation this of course not so easy. Try listening to each fixture for any hissing sounds. If you hear a sound, you probably have a leak. In both cases it’s best to call Lone Star Plumbing for repair.
The water pressure on my kitchen faucet is not very strong. Is there a way to fix it without replacing the whole faucet?
Yes. Try unscrewing the aerator at the end of the spout. You more than likely have some debris caught in there. You can clean this out very easily. If that doesn’t fix the problem, you can also take of the spout on faucets with spray nozzles and see if the diverter is working properly. Remove the diverter and reinstall the spout. If your pressure increases then your diverter is not working. This can usually be replaced fairly cheap. If this does not work it’s best to call Lone Star Plumbing to investigate further.
Sometimes I smell gas outside my house, what should I do?
If you smell gas at anytime call the gas company and leave the area immediately. They will determine if you have a leak. If that determination is made, call Lone Star Plumbing and we will determine the best course of action for repair.