Plumbing Archives | APHW Windermere

Septic Sense: Maintaining the Motions

Posted on July 26, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

One of the finer aspects of society living is public plumbing: Once you flush, it goes away. But with more than 20 percent of households relying on an onsite system to treat their wastewater, you may have found yourself with a septic tank to maintain. Don’t panic: While repairs can be costly, septic systems typically have a 30-year life expectancy with proper maintenance.

First Things First

A little bit about your septic system: It consists of a large underground tank and a drain field. The tank is designed to handle the solid matter, while the treated waste water escapes into the drain field through a filter.

Your maintenance goals, should you accept them, are to:

Prevent excessive solid waste accumulation in the tank, and
Prevent groundwater contamination.

Ew, right? Relax, you won’t be digging around in… ick. It’s mostly just having it serviced regularly, using a ‘good’ bacteria additive, and some good old-fashioned common sense. Check out this article, ‘Your Guide to Septic Tank Maintenance’ on Moving.com^*, for an easy read that explains what to do and how to do it, along with suggestions to help extend the life of your tank.

So let’s roll up our pantlegs (kidding!) and get to work enjoying our modern plumbing!

For more information on Septic Tank warranty coverage, visit APHW.com or call us anytime at 1.800.648.5006.

^*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with Moving.com in any capacity.

Water You Waiting For? Well? Pump!

Posted on February 25, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

Unless you’re super into Little House on the Prairie, chances are you’d prefer not to manually lift buckets of water out of a deep well several times a day. So be sure to give your modern-day alternative, the water well pump, some occasional maintenance—lest you should experience a ‘Wilder’ existence in the near-future.

Leave It to the Professionals

This is one of those cases where any physical maintenance of your system is best left to those with the right training and equipment. Many a well-meaning homeowner has tried to fix an ‘easy’ water well pump problem, only to make it worse and more expensive to fix. You also run the risk of introducing bacteria to your primary water source just by removing the lid, and there’s the possibility of electrocution when working with submersible pumps. Save yourself a lot of headache—call a professional.

When & Who to Call

Schedule a maintenance check-up for your water well pump once per year with a National Ground Water Association (NGWA) licensed or certified well driller or pump installer. It should include the following:

An Itemized Contract w/ Terms & Conditions for the Job

A Flow Test

A Well Equipment Inspection

A Water Test for Bacteria, Nitrates, and/or Other Local Concerns

A Written Report with Recommendations & Test Results

If there is anything that you don’t understand, ask your contractor to explain it in a way that you will. It’s important for you to know what’s going on with your unit—this is your water supply, after all.

You should also schedule a bacterial test any time there is a change in the taste, odor or appearance of your water, or anytime a water supply system is serviced.

What You CAN Do

We’re not saying you should just ignore your water well pump. Here are a few things to consider on occasion while working in your yard:

Verify the well cap or cover is sealed with no leaks.

Take care around your well cap with lawn tools, and don’t bury it under snow, leaves, etc.

Keep hazardous chemicals away, such as pesticides, fertilizers, etc.

Keep the top of your well at least one foot above any landscaping.

When your well reaches its serviceable lifetime (typically at least 20 years), have it professionally decommissioned after the new one has been dug and installed. This will help to prevent bacterial growth, water supply contamination, and possible accidents.

So don’t forage into the old frontier unwillingly. With a little TLC, your water well pump should keep you living in modern times for quite a while.

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Dishwasher Drama: Maintaining the Machine for New Homeowners

Posted on January 22, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

Ah, for the days when I would stand at the kitchen sink, up to my elbows in scalding, soapy water, scrubbing away at the slimy remains of our family dinner. Fond memories—riiiight.

Chances are pretty likely you love your dishwasher, especially if you loath doing the dishes as much as I do. Much like any other appliance, giving it some occasional TLC will help you get the most out of it. That is, unless you like scrubbing chicken grease off your pans.

Check out these maintenance tips to keep your dishwasher going strong!

Regular Use

This might come as a bit of a shock, but your dishwasher is an appliance that works better if you use it regularly. Seriously! While most food particles will get washed down the drain, some will settle on the bottom after each load. Letting them sit too long between loads can cause excess build-up, clogs, and possibly mold.

Cleaning the Cleaner

Your first step will be running your dishwasher through a complete cycle. Once that’s complete, inspect the spinning arms for any residual buildup, and clear out what you can from the tiny holes with a toothpick or some needle nose pliers. Be careful not to scratch the arms while doing so!

Next, clean off the seals along the outer edges of the door. Funky smells coming out of your dishwasher are often caused by the splash-over of food and drinks while loading the machine. While the cycle will take care of parts that face inside, the seals aren’t meant to let anything through, so they end up sealing the food there too, leaving it to rot (and stink).

Now brush any leftover debris out of your cutlery basket and your detergent dispenser. These parts tend to go unnoticed beyond loading and unloading, and can accumulate buildup as well.

Finally, unplug the machine and disassemble the drain on the bottom (keeping track of what went where—use your owner’s manual if need be). Clear away any large food items by hand, and use a brush or a cloth to clear smaller deposits before reassembling the drain and plugging the machine back in.

Ban the Buildup with… Tang?

Now you might have noticed some deposits won’t readily wash away, such as hard water spots or other stains, or possibly mildew. An acidic substance like Tang powder (yes, the drink mix) or lemon juice can actually help clear those away, or you can use white vinegar. Bleach is an option as well, but stick to the acids if your internal parts are stainless steel.

For powdered options, fill your detergent dispenser and run an empty load. For liquid options, place some in a bowl on the top rack and run an empty load. There are also dishwasher cleansers you can buy off the shelf if you’d prefer, just make sure to follow the directions on the container.

Until Next Time!

Go through these steps two to three times a year with regular use to get the most out of your machine and help it run more efficiently. If you have hard water, you may want to maintain it more frequently to prevent sediment buildup.

Happy washing!

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Need-to-Know Plumbing Tips for New Homeowners

Posted on October 2, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

When your toilet is overflowing, or a pipe is leaking (a LOT), wouldn’t it be nice to know how to stop the onslaught of water? Read on to learn this and other essential tips about household plumbing.

Shut It ALL Off

Do you know where your main shut off valve is? In the event of an emergency, shutting it off will stop the water flow to your entire home. Make sure you and your family members know where the main shutoff valve is, and how to turn it off, because even a half-inch of standing water can cause structural damage. If you know nothing else about plumbing, this will at least prevent further flood damage until a plumber can get there. It’s also your first step for major plumbing repairs.

Main shutoff valves can be found in a couple of places, depending on your home, its location, and your water source. Yours may have a handle you can manually turn clockwise to shut off, or you may have a bolt, which will need a wrench or other tool to grip and turn. If you aren’t able to locate the main shutoff yourself, take a look at your property inspection report; it should include the location and a photo. If you find you need a tool for the job, your local hardware store can help. Keep the tool near that main shutoff valve—just in case.

Keep It Localized

Household water supply sources (sinks, toilets, washing machines, etc.) typically have shutoff valves very close to where the water comes out, allowing you to stop the water flow in one place without stopping your entire home’s water supply (handy if someone is taking a shower but your leak is by the washing machine). When you first move in, go through the house and locate all of these valves. They will typically have brightly colored handles made out of plastic or chrome, located on the exposed piping leading to the source. Turn the handles clockwise to shut off the immediate water supply in the event of a leak or overflow.

Avoid blocking these valves with furniture or accessories, which can delay access when you need it most. You may want to invest in a set of slip-joint pliers as well, to make shutting these valves easier as handles can sometimes be in difficult locations to reach and turn.

Defend Your Pipes!

Whether it’s food in your kitchen sink or hair in the bathtub drain, most people immediately reach for the drain cleaner—but you may want to consider an alternative. Drain cleaner is highly caustic and can wear away your pipes over time, particularly if you experience clogs often.

Pour baking soda down the drain and follow it up with vinegar. This combination creates a substance that eats away at only organic matter and is much kinder to your pipes. Finish it off by pouring boiling water down the drain. Use drain cleaner only as a last resort, and be sure to follow the instructions to avoid unnecessary damage.

There’s still plenty to learn about plumbing, but if you know at least these things, you can save yourself a lot of hassle, and a LOT of money.

Check back soon for more homeowner tips!