A: Yes, always remove your hose in the fall before the first freeze. The faucet cannot drain if a hose is left on it and this will cause it to freeze and it may break.

A: We recommend that you do this to avoid water damage that could occur if a pipe were to start leaking or a hose to a washing machine were to break. We can do a yearly check on all plumbing components to look for signs of weakness in your system. We can also install water detection devices throughout your house that will automatically shut off the water in the event of a leak.

A: If you are in a hard water area or have high iron in the water it is a good idea to flush the water heater about every 3 months. To flush simply leave the water supply on to the water heater and connect a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the heater. Open drain valve and let water run to a drain for about 10 minutes.

A: The most important thing is to run lots of water! Turn water on & let run for at least 10 seconds before turning disposal on & let water continue to run for at least 15 seconds after disposal is empty.

A: Things that are stringy like celery & corn husks should not go in a disposal. Also anything that is sticky like banana peels, egg shells & foods with high grease content.

A: There are several options depending on how accessible your water lines are. If you live in a ranch style home with an unfinished basement a simple return line can be ran back to the water heater that will circulate hot water through the main feed lines & greatly reduce the amount of water you must run before you get hot water. This will save on your water bill & if you insulate the line may also save on gas usage.

A: Tankless heaters can save on your gas bill but there are many things to consider before switching to them. Call our office & we will be glad to go over the pros & cons of a tankless heater and help you in making a decision on this unit.

A: Over a period of time body oils & soap scum can build up in the piping of a whirlpool. To clean this piping fill the whirlpool with hot water. Add ½ cup of dishwashing detergent for an average size whirlpool & ¾ cup for larger whirlpools. Turn whirlpool on & let run for 15 minutes. Drain and refill with cold water & run for 5 more minutes. Drain & piping should be clean.