Water pressure may be low for a variety of reasons.

If all of your neighbors have low water pressure, then there may not be much you can do except to contact your water supplier and complain about the problem. If, however, your home is the only one with low pressure or if only parts of your house have low pressure, then there are steps you can take. continue

If you have cold water, but no hot water and you have a gas water heater, check the pilot light. Follow the directions on the heater to make sure that the pilot light is working properly. If you are unsure how to do this, call your local gas company. They may send out a serviceman, possibly at no charge, to help you with the heater. continue

If your sink faucet is making a clunking sound or if it’s dripping, it can often be fixed by replacing the rubber washer. Take apart the faucet and pull out the old washer.

When replacing the old washer, be sure to bring it to the hardware store – you’ll need to find an exact replacement to ensure a perfect fit.  If you need us to do the repairs, we’re only a phone call away! continue

• Buy and install a little strainer to place over the drain for trapping food, hair, soap, etc. Clean the strainer regularly.
• Collect cooking fats in a container such as a can and dispose of it in the garbage rather than pouring fats down the drain. Fats can solidify in cold pipes and create clogs. continue

SAFETY TIP # 1: Do not pour caustic liquid drain cleaner into a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients can get trapped in your pipes and cause severe damage.

SAFETY TIP #2: Do not use a plunger on a drain if you have poured caustic drain cleaner into it. Caustic chemicals in the pipes could splash up during plunging. continue

Toilet Won’t Flush Completely

First determine the cause of the problem.

1. Is no water running into the toilet? If you try flushing and no water runs into the toilet bowl, check the water level in the tank. It should be within about 1/2 inch of the top of the overflow pipe. The overflow pipe is the big vertical tube in the tank. If the water level isn’t high enough, parts inside the tank may need replacement. You can buy these at a hardware store.  If you aren’t sure of how to do this, just give us a call and we can easily do the job for you. continue

If a burst pipe is flooding your home, shut off the water to your house. See the section on Shutting Off Your Water.

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