Problem: Have your water bills increased suddenly, but you don't notice any leaky faucets?

Tip: It could be several things, one of which is a toilets that leaks. Here at Village Plumbing we have many solutions to lowering that water bill. Call us for a consultation.

Problem: How often should you have my septic system inspected?

Tip: Septic systems should be inspected and pumped a MINIMUM of once every three to four years. Neglecting this could cause unwanted solids to flow into the drain field, which is the part of the system that allows water to drains into the ground. If solids flow into the drain field it becomes blocked and ineffective. A blocked drain field is costly to repair or replace.

Problem: Is there a foul odor coming from a bathroom that you are hardly using?

Tip: It could be that the water level in your trap has evaporated. The trap is a part of your plumbing system that contains water to seal out foul odors. If this water seal evaporates, the odors enter the house. To solve this problem, pour a bucket of water in each sink, shower and floor drain. If the odors persist, call us at Village Plumbing. We will take care of it!

Problem: How can you prevent your pipes from freezing?

Tip: There are several things you can do:

1. If you have pipes that are exposed to cold air (e.g., in attics or crawlspaces) make sure that they are properly insulated. The more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.
   
2. Disconnect garden hoses and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.
   
3. Seal any leaks that allow cold air inside, near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in. With severe wind chill, a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze.
   
4. Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls. If you have pipes in your attic, you may want to open the attic door as well.
   
5. If you are going on vacation, don't lower the heat in your house below 58-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to ask a friend or neighbor to check your house daily to make sure it's warm enough to prevent freezing. You can also shut off and drain the water system. Be aware that if you have a fire protection sprinkler system in your house, it will be deactivated when you shut off the water.

Problem: What do you do if your pipes all already frozen?

Tip: If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call Village Plumbing immediately. If you detect that your water pipes have frozen and burst, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve to the house and leave the water faucets turned on. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shut-off valve is and how to open and close it.

Problem: Is there a whistle sound that seems to be connected to your plumbing system?

Tip: This is often caused by a slow leak in the fill valve of your toilet. Call your Village Plumbing professional for more information.

Problem: Do you need to replace a toilet in our home? Have you heard that the new toilets do not flush properly?

Tip: When the federal government mandated that new toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush, manufacturers had the challenge of developing a toilet that would also flush properly (clear the bowl) and carry the waste to the city sewer or septic system. Village Plumbing has done extensive testing and carries 1.6 toilets that flush. Call us for recommendations.

Problem: Are you constantly running out of hot water?

Tip: There are two possibilities. First, the dip tube (inside your water heater) has broken off. This tube forces incoming water to the bottom of the tank so that hot water will be drawn off of the top. If the dip tube breaks, cold water enters the tank, mixing with the hot water and cooling it down. This occurs 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, and only the upper half of the tank is heating up. This could be caused by a bad element or a thermostat malfunction. A Village Plumbing can evaluate this type of problem.