Water inefficiency is bad for both your pocket and the environment. Fortunately, you can take a wide range of measures to avoid water wastage at home. Below are some of these measures.

Water appliances have different efficiencies. Choose the highest efficiency within your budget whenever you want to install an appliance. Here are some useful examples of such appliances:

Water appliances are becoming more efficient as time goes on — and without compromising on functionality. If you have old appliances, the chance is high that the contemporary market has numerous efficient appliances you can use to update your current appliances.

Water heaters come in different varieties, but you can choose between two major categories — 

. The tank system heats and stores hot water, while the tankless system only heats water when you need it.

A tankless water heater is both energy- and water-efficient. Water efficiency is possible because the appliance instantly heats the water when you need it. Thus, you don’t have to wait for some cold water to flow down the drain as the water heats.

Low water pressure reduces the risk of water leaks, which high water pressure can cause by forcing its way through small spaces in pipe joints. Additionally, low water pressure reduces water delivery per minute, which reduces overall water use. Both of these perks can help you achieve better water efficiency in your home.

To lower the water pressure in your home, adjust the pressure regulator that sits just after the water meter outside the house. Ensure the pressure reading doesn’t exceed 80 psi.

A leaking plumbing system wastes water and makes you pay for the water you aren’t using. Because of this, you’ll want to prevent and plug leaks as soon as they occur. The following tips should help:

Install a leak detector to alert you as soon as a leak occurs. If you detect a leak, shut off your 

Did you know you can recycle some of the wastewater from your house for reuse? A typical house produces two types of wastewater — black and gray water. The black water comes from the toilet and shouldn’t be recycled. Grey water comes from various other sources, such as showers, sinks, and bathtubs, and you can often recycle this water.

You can install a recycling system that separates the grey water from the black water and purifies it. The installation is especially easy and cost-effective during construction. You can use the water for non-consumption activities, such as watering the lawn and washing clothes.

If you choose to install one of these systems, ensure you follow your state’s water recycling regulations.

Changing your water-usage habits can have a big effect on your overall water efficiency. Some things you can do include the following:

Indoctrinate all household members to water-saving tips — collective efforts work better than individual efforts.

Three things are critical to your water conservation efforts — good plumbing installation, proper maintenance, and water-usage habits. 

 can help you with the first two things. We also provide emergency services to those who need immediate help after hours. 

 with your plumbing problem to get a professional solution.

How to Conserve Water In Your Home

The water that runs into your home is extremely important. Now more so than ever, Americans are getting a vast majority of their drinking water from home, and if you are not sure how safe your water is, you may be welcoming in some unfortunate health complications. One of the most common questions that we get from our Arizona customers is “Do I need a water filter or a water softener?” You might think that these two water purifying devices do the same thing, but you would be sorely mistaken. If you are interested in improving the quality of water flowing into your home, 

schedule an appointment with the elite plumbing team here at Moon Valley Plumbing today

. Our friendly and helpful technicians will make sure that you get the perfect system for your needs without breaking your budget. Here are some basic differences between water filtration systems and water softeners.

It may not seem like it at first glance, but water softeners and 

 serve very different functions. A water filter actively removes potentially dangerous particulates from your water like bacteria, heavy metals, and chemicals. We recommend utilizing water filters for a number of reasons. If you are nervous about any potential chemical contamination in the water that you are drinking, a water filter can efficiently remove almost all of the harmful chemicals you may be worried about. Another reason to utilize a water filter is if you notice any strange taste or smell with the water in your home or business. Although not necessarily dangerous to your health, this bad smell or taste can be extremely off-putting to both you and your guests. Finally, if you live in a rural area and use well water that might be contaminated with Sulphur or iron, as it commonly can be, a water filter can easily remove these dangerous elements. Overall, a water filter will greatly improve the overall taste, clarity, and cleanliness of your water.

In order to understand what a water softener does, we first need to go into what hard water is. Hard water is a term that means that the water in your home is carrying a large amount of calcium and magnesium. This calcium and magnesium can cause your dishes to get spots on them, can cause dry or irritated skin, and can cause serious backup issues in your plumbing. A good water softener lowers the calcium and magnesium levels in your water to make it gentler on your skin and remove the white residue associated with hard water. A water softener will not remove other dangerous chemicals, so it is important that you make the right decision between these two fantastic water improvement products.

If you are interested in learning more about which of these water-improving methods is best for you, 

contact the friendly and helpful team here at Moon Valley Plumbing today

. We will help you get the perfect system for your home or business and have it installed quickly and efficiently so you can keep living your life without interruption.

Water Filtration Vs. Water Softener

, but other types of plumbing maintenance can be accessible to handy homeowners as well. The amount of home maintenance you do may depend on how much experience you have with home improvements and plumbing work.

Here are some of the types of home plumbing maintenance you can perform on your bathroom plumbing.

In some cases, a shower drain clog may consist of a wad of hair in the drain’s P-trap. In this case, you may be able to remove the clog with a simple plastic plumbing snake. If a gentle plastic snake doesn’t do the trick, you’ll want to call a professional; don’t try to use more advanced tools such as metal augers without the proper training, as they can damage your drain.

To use a plastic drain snake, you simply insert the end into the drain and turn the handle to twist it around until it snags any hair it finds inside the drain. If the drain clogs frequently, consider using a mesh drain screen to prevent future clogs. You can also have your drains 

 on a regular basis to prevent the buildup of grime inside the drains.

Faucet washers tend to wear out after a few years, which can cause the valve not to close completely and result in a leaking or dripping faucet. If you’re confident in your ability to take a faucet apart and then put it back together correctly, you may be able to switch these washers out yourself every few years to avoid any drips.

In fact, with a compression faucet, the replacement process is relatively simple. However, if you’re unsure what type of faucet you have or have less experience taking faucets apart and putting them back together, you can simply have your 

 perform the replacement at your next plumbing maintenance visit.

Changing the toilet flapper is one of the simple toilet maintenance tasks. Since the flapper is made of a rubbery material that doesn’t perform as well once it hardens with age, you may need a new flapper every so often. One sign you may need a new flapper is if your toilet runs constantly because water keeps leaking past the flapper into the toilet bowl.

If you look inside your toilet’s tank, you’ll typically see that the flush handle on the tank is connected (typically by a chain and lever) to a flapper at the bottom of the bowl. If you find an identical flapper at the hardware store, you can simply remove the old flapper and snap or slide the new one in.

You should periodically inspect your bathroom plumbing for leaks, so you’ll know if you need to call a plumber for repairs. Some of the places you should inspect include:

You can use a facial tissue to wipe down the outsides of pipes when checking for moisture since these tissues are very moisture-sensitive. However, if you find moisture on a pipe that has cold water in it, make sure you know the difference between condensation and an actual leak before you call a plumber.

These are some of the relatively straightforward maintenance tasks you can perform at home to care for your bathroom plumbing. These and similar plumbing tasks can either work well as part of your DIY maintenance schedule or can become professional jobs when your plumber arrives for regularly scheduled maintenance visits.

For more information about plumbing maintenance and repairs, get in touch with your local plumbing expert 

 today. We’ll be happy to help with anything from installation to replacements to maintenance and repairs of your plumbing system.

Bathroom Plumbing Maintenance You Can Do at Home

Your household plumbing system should operate quietly. If you often hear a loud knocking noise when shutting off a water fixture in your home, then that is a sign that you may have a common plumbing problem called a water hammer.

Water hammers typically occur when water in a home plumbing system suddenly changes direction or pressure in a home water pipes increases suddenly, causing pipe hydraulic shock. This shock can cause pipes to vibrate and bang against each other or against interior components of your walls, creating this knocking sound or even causing your home walls to vibrate.

Read on learn about water hammer hazards, along with their numerous causes and solutions.

A water hammer can be a symptom of an underlying plumbing system problem, and allowing pipes to vibrate and bang against each other for an extended period of time can lead to even more plumbing problems.

As pipes shake and knock against each other, pipe connections can loosen and joints can deteriorate. When pipe connections are no longer secure, water can begin leaking at these connection sites. Water leaks that occur inside of walls often go unnoticed until water begins seeping into interior living spaces and causing extensive damage.

Many home plumbing and appliance problems can lead to the development of water hammers.

Homes built before the 1960s typically have plumbing systems equipped with air chambers, which are pipe sections filled with air. These chambers help regulate pipe water pressure to limit water hammer occurrence. Over time, air chambers can fill with water, limiting their ability to prevent water hammers.

Thankfully, most homeowners can remove water from plumbing air chambers easily. First, shut off your home’s 

. Then, run all of your water fixtures until all water is drained from your home plumbing system. Finally, turn your main water supply valve back on.

Draining your entire home plumbing system typically removes all water from air chambers to help them begin performing their task properly again.

Loose Water Supply Lines or Old, Unstable Pipes

Some water hammers are caused by loose water supply lines or old pipes that are no longer secured to the home’s framework properly. When pipes are not secured to the home’s framework properly, they can move around and create noise as water flows through them.

If you suspect your water hammers are caused by old pipes lacking their proper fasteners, then have a plumber come 

 and attach fasteners where needed to stop water hammers.

While low water pressure can be an annoyance, water pressure that is too high can exert pressure on your pipes that can create numerous problems, including water hammers. Ideally, your water pressure should not exceed 80 pounds per square inch (PSI) to limit water hammer occurrence.

You can test your water pressure with a kit you can purchase at a local hardware store. If your water pressure exceeds 80 PSI, then have a licensed plumber add a pressure regulator to your home’s main water supply line to reduce water hammer occurrence.

If a water hammer occurs in your home only when you run one specific appliance, such as a 

, then the water hammer may be caused by the appliance. Washing machines and dishwashers often cause water hammers because their water valves close very quickly.

To stop a water hammer caused by a single home appliance, have a plumber install a fixture called a water hammer arrestor on the appliance or water line that serves it. A water hammer arrestor contains a cushion of air that absorbs hydraulic shock that can cause water hammers as the appliance water valve closes.

If you hear a knocking sound when you shut off a water fixture, you likely have a plumbing water hammer that could lead to a leaky pipe if it is not remedied. Contact the experts at 

 for plumbing repairs needed to stop your water hammer problem today.

Water Hammers: Hazards, Causes, & Solutions

House inspection is a critical step when buying a home. During the inspection, you should pay attention to the structural integrity, roofing system, security features, interiors, HVAC systems, appliances, electrical systems, exteriors, and plumbing systems.

A reliable plumbing system allows free flow of clean water and wastewater in and out of the house, respectively. Therefore, you need to inspect the plumbing systems with the 

 before you close the deal. Here are things to look for during plumbing inspection.

 can help you assess the performance of the entire plumbing system. Switch on any faucet and find out whether the heater produces enough hot water or not. Do this for a couple of minutes to detect any temperature fluctuations.

If you hear strange sounds from the water heater, this could be a sign of sediment buildup that needs to be flushed.

Remember to check for any leak signs around the water heater. Make sure the pipes and other fittings are well connected and sealed. With the help of a technician, you should identify signs of loose parts, leaks, and faulty accessories and estimate the repair or replacement costs.

Moreover, the plumbing technician can help you check the heater type in the house in question and offer advice based on the degree of efficiency.

In the kitchen you need to check the sink, garbage disposal, shutoff valves, and other kitchen appliances. Here is how to inspect them.

Turn on the faucet and check for any leakage around it or slow draining. You can let tap water run for a few minutes and watch how it behaves.

Be wary of water that drains slowly because this could a sign of blockage. Fortunately, a plumber can disassemble the sink, clean the drain, or replace any problematic parts.

Even if the drain is in good condition, however, you need to observe proper maintenance strategies to prevent clogging once you buy the house.

, and let the plumber tighten the connections. Strange smells from the garbage disposal is a common sign of 

. Since the garbage disposal units might also fail to turn on, you should test it during the inspection session.

Shutoff valves regulate water supply to your taps and appliances. Turn off different valves to find out if they affect the 

. If not, you need to repair or replace the faulty ones.

Kitchen appliances, such as dishwashers, also depend on the home’s plumbing system. During the inspection, turn on the dishwasher and carefully assess how it functions. Check how long it takes to fill or drain, and make sure the shutoff valve that controls it works.

In the bathroom, make sure the faucets don’t leak. Also, find out if the bathroom drains are clogged by hair or soap scum. If you notice any issues, you can 

hire the technician to open the drains and eliminate any trapped debris

Open the toilet cistern, flush, and watch how it behaves. A toilet that flushes continuously wastes a lot of water and might need repairs or replacements. Also, check for any 

If you want to buy an old home, the main sewer drain may have root intrusion and other issues that can block your sewer line. A professional plumber can use 

 to detect any signs of cracks, corrosion, or root intrusion and advise accordingly.

You need to inspect various parts of a plumbing system before you buy a home. This guide provides you with a checklist that can make your work easier and help you avoid costly mistakes.

Our company offers plumbing inspection and repair services for residential properties, commercial properties, foreclosure properties, and condos. 

news

How to Conserve Water In Your Home

Water Filtration Vs. Water Softener

Bathroom Plumbing Maintenance You Can Do at Home

Water Hammers: Hazards, Causes, & Solutions

4 Things to Look for During a Plumbing Inspection