Water Shutoff Valves 101

The first step of solving many plumbing problems is usually turning off the water shutoff valve. If you'd like to tackle these problems successfully when they arise, start by checking out the shutoff valves in your home. Let's look at the types of valves you'll most probably come across.

Gate Valve

This valve has a machined inner mechanism. To turn it on or off, you'll have to turn its circular head, which in turn raises or lowers a metal gate. The gate blocks water flow when it's in its lowest position. Water flows freely when the gate is in its highest position. The valve should be completely open or completely closed. Opening it partially will cause it to wear away and fail over time.

Washered Valve

This is the most common water shutoff valve. You're likely to find it in your toilet, sinks and outdoor sillcocks. It comes in different sizes and is usually round or oval shaped. It has a rubber washer that compresses onto a metal seat when you turn the valve's handle to shut off water flow. The valve will leak when the washer wears out. Replacing the washer is easy, but you have to ensure you get a rightly sized one.

Ball Valve

This is the least problematic valve. You'll most likely find it under sinks and toilets. It has a straight lever handle that only makes a quarter turn. In the open position, the handle is parallel to your pipes and in the closed position, it's perpendicular. Instead of a washer, it has a machined ball with a hole. It shuts off water when it's aligned such that the hole is perpendicular to water flow.If you're proactive about keeping your plumbing system healthy, it will be beneficial to identify the types of shutoff valves you have and where they're located. To learn more about the water shutoff valve types, please contact us at Air Assurance. We've proudly served the Broken Arrow area for more than 30 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “PublicDomainArchive/Pixabay”

Toilet Flapper Troubleshooting

A malfunctioning toilet flapper can prevent your toilet from working correctly. If your toilet is running or won't flush like it should, check for some common signs that will help you pinpoint the problem.

The Toilet Won't Stop Running

Your toilet flapper's job is to rise up from the flush valve and let water into the bowl when you flush, then drop down and stop the flow of water when the flush ends. As the flapper wears out, it can warp, harden or deteriorate and no longer form a tight seal. When this happens, it can't completely stop the flow of water. This leaves you with a toilet that runs constantly and wastes water.

First, make sure the toilet flapper chain isn't so long it's getting tangled and stopping the flapper from closing or so short that it's holding the flapper up off the flush valve. If this isn't the issue, adding a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank will help you detect a leak. After you add the coloring, wait 10 minutes and if you find the color has seeped into the bowl, you have a leaky flapper you'll need to replace.

The Toilet Won't Flush Correctly

Your toilet flapper chain should have just a slight amount of slack. A chain that's too short will cause the flush to cut off too soon, leaving too little water in the bowl or even fail to fully clean the bowl. A short flush can also happen when the chain is too long. In this case, the rushing water pulls the flapper closed before the flush is complete.To check for this toilet problem, remove the tank lid and watch the toilet flapper as you flush. The flapper should start to drop when around 80 percent of the water has left the tank. If it doesn't, readjust the chain by unhooking it from the flush lever and shortening or lengthening it as needed by two links.

For help with your toilet or any other plumbing fixture, contact us at Air Assurance anywhere around Broken Arrow.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “gmstockstudio/Shutterstock”

Things You Shouldn't Put Down the Drain

It's dangerous to adopt an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude towards your household drains. Some things that go down your drain can come back to haunt you in the form of clogs, flooding and other costly plumbing problems. To help you maintain a healthy plumbing system, here's a list of items that shouldn't go down your drains.

• Grease – Kitchen grease solidifies when it cools. It coats the inner walls of sewer pipes. With time, it can build up and even block an entire pipe. To get rid of it in an environmentally-friendly way, pour it into an old can or sealed container and put it in the trash.

• Eggshells – Although they seem fragile, they don't break down easily once they're inside your drains. They can mix with other items and form clogs.

• Stringy or starchy vegetables – Vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, celery, kale, rhubarb, lettuce and potato peels are too starchy, stringy or fibrous to be put in your garbage disposal. They can easily get tangled around the blade and clog drains.

• Coffee grounds – To you they may be fine and harmless but to your drains, they are a recipe for disaster. When they mix with water, they get heavier. They can compact in the disposal trap and cause a blockage. Why not put them to work by using them in your garden as fertilizer or a deterrent to ants, snails and slugs?

• Large wipes – Paper towels, baby wipes and other large wipes may be biodegradable, but can cause problems for your septic system. Their absorbent nature can make them clog up drain lines.

• Pasta and rice – Pasta and rice expand when they mix with water. They'll expand every time water goes down your drains. Eventually, they'll fill up the trap and clog your drains.

When you avoid putting the wrong things down the drain, you also save the environment by creating a healthier habitat for marine life. For more information on how to take care of your drain, contact us at Air Assurance. We serve the Broken Arrow area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “nattul/Shutterstock”

If You Need a Plumber, This List Will Help You Find the Right One

Since many homeowners don't realize they need a plumber until an emergency strikes, finding a reliable one can be tough. Although you can take steps to maintain your home’s plumbing system and prevent water damage, it is important to have a trustworthy professional available just in case. Here are some key tips for finding the right Mr. or Ms. Fix-It for your home.Ask AroundSince referrals are the foundation for good business, the first step when you need a plumber is to ask friends, family, neighbors and coworkers for their recommendations. Also, consult websites or service provider reviews.Do the ResearchWrite up a short list based on those recommendations, and then contact the Better Business Bureau. They can let you know whether potential service providers have outstanding or extraordinary complaints. The BBB can also help you find out your state's requirements and ensure that candidates more than fulfill basic requirements.Shop AroundWith your shorter list in hand, create a list of questions about your home's plumbing problem(s). Ask companies for free estimates and for general rates, whether by the job or hour, to help cut down your list further. This step also gives you a general estimate ahead of time.Ask the Right QuestionsBefore making your final choice, ask the following questions to avoid any surprises.

• How long have they been around? Look for plumbers with five to 10 years of experience.

• What licenses do they carry? Consult the Better Business Bureau again.

• What kind of insurance have they got? Generally, at least $500,000 in liability insurance, along with workman’s compensation, is standard.

• Is the job guaranteed, and, if so, for how long? Guarantees reveal confidence in their work.

Finally, review the contract details before agreeing. This ensures that you get the estimate in writing, and that you, your home, and your plumber are fully protected.Using these steps, you can take your time finding the right professional for your home before plumbing emergencies strike. For more expert assistance in addressing your Tulsa metropolitan area home comfort needs, contact Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning, & Plumbing today.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Minerva Studio/Shutterstock”

Plumbing Problems: Find Yours on This List

Plumbing Problems: Find Yours on This List

There’s no good time to have plumbing problems, and chances are one will strike at the least convenient time possible. If you’re experiencing a problem in your Oklahoma home, you should contact a plumber right away. However, what do you do before the plumber arrives? Browse this list of plumbing problems to see how to immediately handle the situation.

• Smell of natural gas: Evacuate your home immediately without using a phone or any other electrical source, as this could cause a spark. Only call the gas company once you’re safely outside.

• Leak in the yard: Locate the water meter and shut off the valve on the outlet side.

• Leak from an unknown interior location: Until you identify exactly what’s causing the leak, shut off the water to the house. Since a condensate drain overflow could cause the problem, turn the air conditioner up to 82 degrees to minimize operation until the plumber arrives.

• Leak from the water heater: Shut off the inlet valve on the water heater, and turn off the gas or electricity providing power to the water heater.

• Toilet overflowing: Shut off the inlet valve behind the toilet and open the sewer clean-out plug on the outside of your home. Remove any soiled rugs and mop up the mess as best as you can with rags.

• Bubbling sounds from first-floor drains: Do not operate any water fixtures upstairs, since it’s possible a sewer or drain stoppage is what’s causing the problem. Open the sewer clean-out plug outside the home and await a plumber’s instructions.

• Kitchen sink stopped up: If the disposal is broken and the kitchen sink is backed up, open the clean-out plug outside your home and wait for the plumber to arrive.

• Flame or char marks visible on your gas water heater: Shut off the fuel source and discontinue hot water usage until the problem is addressed.

If you’re experiencing these or other plumbing problems, please contact Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today. We have proudly provided exceptional HVAC services to the Broken Arrow community since 1985.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  Image courtesy of Shutterstock