So what does this mean to local residents to have lime-scale in the water supply?

What Exactly Is Hard Water      

Hard water is water with high dissolved mineral content that often includes magnesium and calcium. Since the terrain in Tennessee has quite a bit of limestone, our plumbing systems carry hard water.

Harmful Effects of Hard Water

There are a number of impacts of having hard water you may not have considered. Hard water is known to cause plumbing issues and other challenges for local residents.

Here are some of the top reasons people prefer to have softer water:

• Consuming too much magnesium and calcium can have ill effects on health.
• Hard water can cause noticeable damage to your plumbing pipes due to increased levels of minerals. These hard water minerals can cause build up on appliances and plumbing fixtures, as well as clog your pipes.
• More detergent is required to do laundry and dishes. The minerals reduce the suds and cleaning power of the detergents, resulting in an additional expense.
• More soap is needed for baths and showers for the exact same reason.

How to Make Water Softer

There is really only one way to get your plumbing to produce softer water. Treat your water by purchasing and installing a water softener. Your local plumber can easily handle this task for you. There are all types of softeners.

Factors to consider in Purchasing a Softener

There are a number of water softeners on the market. You can even purchase one from Amazon and have it delivered to your door in 1-2 days or less. Below are some factors to consider in purchasing a water softener:

Size Needed for the Home – Consider how much water your family uses along with the size of your home and the how much softening needs to be done (based on how hard your water is)

How Long You Need the Softener to Last – Softeners vary in quality. Like most appliances, the higher the quality, the higher the price in most cases. The average softener lasts 10 to 15 years.

The Need for Continual Soft Water – Similar to how a tankless water heater offers continual hot water, some softeners offer continual softening. If this is a requirement for your family, that option exists. A more economical option is to purchase a lower end valve which works on a timer.

Installation Expense – It is definitely worth the research to determine the installation costs for the unit. Most plumbers can install any brand unit. Rates vary and will generally be more if your home is not pre-plumbed.

Fix It All Plumbing is committed to providing you and your family with expert plumbing services at fair rates. Our plumbers are glad to answer any questions or help resolve issues.

Call or text us at (615) 568-5051

Your Master Plumber,

Kevin Sipes

The post Nashville Hard Water first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

Diagnosing Rotten Sewer Drain Line

The homeowner called the plumbers Fix It All about a foul smell coming from their basement. The home was off Nolensville Road close to Southern Hills Hospital in Nashville 37211.

The plumbing team at Fix It All Plumbing ran a smoke test and quickly diagnosed the issue. Smoke had arisen through a crack in the concrete. The plumbers determined the cast iron drain pipe underneath was rotten. Next the plumbing team had to break open the concrete and run a new line to the main sewer line.

Repairing Rotten Cast Iron Sewer Drain Pipe

The plumbing portion of the job required 5 hours. The work to bust open the concrete to access the drain line, and then restore all the concrete required 5 days. The only work the Fix It All Plumbing team did not do was replace the carpet and repaint the area. Insurance covered 90% of the job. The only portions not covered were the plumbing diagnosis and installation of the new pipe.

Insurance paid for all expenses involved except the new pipe installation.

The plumbers at Fix It All Plumbing are committed to providing homeowners and businesses with premium plumbing services at fair rates. We are glad to help you with any plumbing questions or issues. Call or text us at 615-568-5051.

The post Nashville Plumbing Broken Sewer Line Repair 37211 first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

Showers Instead of Baths

There’s no denying that baths require way more hot water than a shower. Warm baths should be considered a luxury. Don’t opt for baths for your children or you on a daily basis. If possible, limit baths to 2-3 times per month. Full baths require 70 gallons of water on average versus about 15 gallons for a short shower or 30 gallons for a 10-minute shower. If you choose baths 3 times a month vs daily, you will save anywhere from $15 to $35 per month, when you take into consideration the cost of the water and the electricity required to heat it.

Of course, reducing the time your family spends in the shower will help reduce the cost and will help ensure hot water is available for washing clothes or dishes or to the next bather, unless of course you have a tankless hot water heater. Try this trick: Keep the bathroom door closed (especially in cold winter months) as this will help maintain the warm air. A fluffy robe can help you maintain warmth as well.

Identify any plumbing problems

Yes, there are situations when those huge water heating bills are caused by plumbing issues. There could be a valve or pipe blockage or a number of other issues. Even a single drip add up when it comes to a water bill. This is why you need to hire professional plumbers and handle these types of problem as fast as possible. Thankfully, catching a plumbing issue early can produce significant cost savings.

Reduce Hot Water Heater Temperature

Your hot water temperature can be adjusted down. Many people do this in the summer when the water tends to be warmer anyway. It may be difficult to know how low to set the hot water heater. Try reducing it a notch or two and see if you can tell any difference. Also, be sure to consider children who are in the household or visiting. Having a water temperature set too high can result in skin burns.  Be sure to read your hot water heater instructions to be sure you set it the right way. We have had customers who tried to lower their temperature and raised it instead.

Avoid Leaving the Hot Water Running

Instead of leaving the hot water run when you step away to soak a pan or fill a teapot can escalate your hot water use quickly. The best practice is to turn off hot water if you are not there to monitor it.

Adjust Dishwasher Settings

Consider adjusting your dishwater settings to increase efficiency. You can either change the setting to lower the temperature of of your dishwasher or have it run a shorter time. Of course some items may require high heat, particularly for sterilization purposes. Consider your settings before simply defaulting to high heat and lengthy cycles.

Add a Timer to your Water Heater on Alexa 

Timers have become popular in recent years. In fact, Alexa’s Amazon Echo or Google can likely control your water heater settings these days. When set, the timer turns off the electric water heater at your time selected time (when it’s not used). For instance, you can set the unit to not run during the night or times when you are away from home for long periods of time. One last opportunity to save is when you go out of town or on vacation. There is not a real need to keep your water hot when you are away from home for a long period of time.

Fix It All Plumbing is committed to providing you with premium plumbing services at fair rates. We are glad to help you with any plumbing questions or issues. Call or text us at 615-568-5051.

The post 6 Easy Tips to Save Money on Water Heating Bills first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

Our plumbers have assembled a short list of essential affordable plumbing tools to save you from some minor plumbing miseries. It may be that you temporarily hold off a major issue or you repair a minor issue. Know that your local plumbers can take care of the rest.

Home Plumbing DIY Toolkit

1. Plunger (or two)

Plungers are considered more of a safety net than an actual tool such as a snake. Plungers work for toilets and drains. There are two main varieties of plungers that should be around your home at all times; a cup plunger and a flange plunger.

The cup plunger works best for cleaning out drain clogs where the drain rests on a flat surface like skins, tubs, showers etc. whereas the flange plunger with the long handle is best for toilets.

2. Hand Auger

If the plunger fails to clear any clog, you next best bet is a hand auger. Hand augers are designed to easily move through a drain to hook onto any potential clogs and pull out the impediments. This can be used for tubs, showers, sinks, toilets and drain lines. As opposed to a plunger which applies force with a thrusting motion, the hand auger is a tool you rotate to enter the clogged area.

3. Basin Wrench

Having a wrench allows you to tighten a pipe or turn off the water main. It is a staple tool in any plumber’s tool kit. It has a long shaft and a swivel, claw-like head at the end. It is made to be able to access deep and narrow spaces behind sink faucets. It is a handy tool to help with leaks in such areas.

4. Adjustable Wrench

Be sure to keep at least one adjustable wrench in your kit. This wrench is a multi-purpose and multi-functioning tool essential to a plumber’s tool kit. It has a jaw with adjustable width which can be used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts of compression fittings, supply lines, and other plumbing parts that have hexagonal-shaped nuts; you may find yourself reverting to it more often than you anticipate.

While shopping make sure you purchase an adjustable wrench with a good grip and the jaw that holds firm. You may want to include both a six-inch and a ten-inch adjustable jaw wrench for your tool box.

5. Pipe Wrench

A pipe wrench is usually heavier than an adjustable wrench as it‘s intended to tighten or loosen parts that are difficult to grip with other tools. It has backwards facing teeth that help you better grip when water and waste are present on connecting pipes while tightening and loosening, removing or replacing them. This makes them an ideal home plumbing tool to have on hand for plumbing emergencies.

6. Plumbing Tape

All licensed and DIY plumbers should have plumbing tape handy for leak emergencies quick fixes. Plumbing tape’s ability to withhold significant amount of pressure and resist water makes it a perfect rough and ready solution between finding a leak and a permanent fix for both gas and water leakages.

The 6 tools for your toolkit will help you be prepared for minor plumbing repairs that surface in your household from time to time.

Call or text our Nashville plumbers if there are plumbing issues you cannot fix immediately. Remember, with one call, we fix it all.

Fix It All Plumbing is committed to providing you with premium plumbing services at fair rates. We are glad to help you with any questions or issues.

Call or text our Nashville office at (615) 568-5051

Kevin Sipes, Master Plumber

The post Six Essential Plumbing Tools to Have on Hand first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

The plumbing in your house is a complex network of water and sewer pipes that work together and run through your walls to deliver hot and cold water and eliminate your waste upon the flush of a lever. Paying attention and looking for plumbing warning signs can make your plumbing systems and units last longer and potentially save you and your family from a plumping disaster that could cause significant costly damage.

Here are some plumbing warning signs and symptoms to pay attention to and some ways to avoid or resolve major plumbing problems before they even surface.

Five Plumbing Maintenance Tips to Avoid Costly Repairs

Keep an Eye on Water Pressure

After a hard day at work, many family members enjoy a nice long high-pressure hot shower. The thing that we do not know is that if the pressure is too high, our interior pipes can receive excessive impact, which makes our home’s pipe joints, faucets and appliance valves work harder. In order to avoid this, you can measure your water pressure with a hose bib gauge which is readily available at Lowe’s or Home Depot, or Amazon for under $10. Normal pressure should register between 40 and 85 pounds per square inch (psi). If pressure is above the normal range, consider installation of a pressure reducer and give our plumbers a call or text

Prevent Clogging Beforehand

Clogs obviously prevent water from draining and your sink or tub from being used. The backed up water also places unnecessary stress on your water pipes. Such pressure will eventually shorten lifespan of your home’s water pipes.

To avoid clogs, do the following:

• Watch carefully what goes down your drain
• Install screens or guards over drains in showers and tubs.
• Scrape food into the trash before doing dishes and never put liquid grease down the drain. Pour it into a sealable container for proper disposal.

Keep Tank Clean

When you flush your toilet, water travels from the tank at the back of the toilet to refill the bowl. You need to make sure that your water tank remains clean in order to avoid any buildup like metal stains, bacteria, mold, mineral deposits, and mildew over time. When your tank is dirty, the unclean water feeds directly into your toilet bowl, making it difficult to clean and maintain. You can avoid this problem through cleaning beforehand. Draining the tank and using vinegar is a good way to combat the buildup in your toilet tank.

Toilet Maintenance Check-ups

Toilets like any other plumbing fixtures are prone to leakages and the hard part in the equation is that it’s not always easy to detect. The tank is a good place to start you maintenance check-up. In most cases the culprit for leakage is a faulty flapper. The flapper is a rubber cover at the bottom of the tank that permits the tank to fill and release water. Being in water all day long eventually wears down the rubber and loosens the seal.

One way to check that whether the flapper is faulty or not is to add a few drops of food coloring in the tank and leave it overnight. If you find color in your toilet’s bowl next morning then make sure you have your local plumber replace the flap. For do it yourselfers, you may buy a kit from Amazon or your local hardware store. Fixing the flap will save on your water usage and associated bill.

Keep the Bowl Clean

It’s always a good idea for hygiene and germ prevention to maintain a clean toilet bowl but it should not be the only reason that compels you to do this job regularly. Cleaning the bowl keeps it free of corrosion and prevents clogging. The best way to clean a toilet bowl is to focus on the siphon jets. These jets are best cleaned with a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and water.

Fix It All Plumbing is committed to providing you with premium plumbing services at fair rates in the Nashville area. Our plumbers are glad to help you with any plumbing questions or issues.

Call or text us at (615) 568-5051

Your Nashville Plumber,

Kevin Sipes

The post 5 Easy Ways to Prevent Plumbing Problems first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

In most cases, I do need to take a look at this issue. It could be that your sewer line has an issue and water is not able to flow freely through the system. Your main sewer line may be clogged.

Why Do Sewer Lines Get Blocked

So what clogs your sewer pipes? Anything short of solid waste and regular toilet paper. To be on the safe side, those are the only things that should go down the toilet. Other things can get caught up fairly easily, especially if there is an imperfection in the pipe, such as when pipes get bellied or pushed down into the ground. Pipe corrosion can limit the flow of water. Tree roots that grow into the pipes themselves are one of the most common occurrences that limits the flow and increases the chance something will get stuck in the pipe and create a clog.

Items that Commonly Clogs Sewer Pipes

Some of the most common items that clog sewer lines are listed below. Think about it this way, if the item you are flushing cannot disintegrate in water, it is best not to flush it. Yes, you may be able to flush items other than toilet paper, but why take that chance and risk a clogged sewer line that requires yard digging to get to it.

Sanitary Pads and Tampons

Grease and Oil

Cloth Diaper Inserts

Disposable Diapers

Flushable Wipes

Baby Wipes

Paper Towels and Napkins

Cat Litter

Swiffer Pads

Hair

Vitamins

Plastic from Packaging

Cardboard

Dental Floss

Coffee Grinds

Cell Phones 😊

Guardians of The Galaxies figures

Coffee Filters

Yes, these items are commonly flushed and yes, sometimes they succeed in making it through the system. The risk is not worth it. Simply throw these items away in the trash rather than risking a costly repair.

Fix It All Plumbing is committed to providing you with premium plumbing services at fair rates. We are glad to help you with any plumbing questions or issues.

Call or text us at (615) 568-5051

Your Nashville Plumber,

Kevin Sipes

The post Backed Up Floor Drains & Sewer Line Problems first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

Preventing a Bathtub Clog

Prevention of the hair clog is always the best approach to avoid the issue completely. Consider buying an effective drain cap or cover to ensure nothing other than water is able to slip down it. If you have a family with thick curly long hair, you will benefit from a drain cover. With something in place to catch the stray hairs, you won’t have to worry about having to pull out accumulations of organic debris that are simply too large to make their way through your plumbing system in any expedient fashion.

Common Substances that Clog Bathroom Drains

Another important thing to note is that hair is only one substance that can cause slow moving drains in the bathroom. There are a number of small-sized items that can get lodged in this portion of your plumbing system if it is not properly blocked off by an acceptable drain catch plate. For instance, if your children like showering or bathing with small-sized toys, then you should make sure that these are always too large to slip down in this space. Be sure to check toys for small detachable parts. Another common culprit is food. Yes, children and adults both eat in the bathroom.

As a general rule, If the object is a choking hazard, it is also a bathroom drain hazard.

The tops to shampoos and conditions or even various portions of personal razors or shavers are among some of the other things that can get lodged into this space. If you do not have a drain cap currently in place, make sure that this isn’t your problem. If you have a relatively large, hard obstruction in this area, it is best to call a plumber.

Best Way to Remove Hair from a Shower Drain

For soft, organic materials such as hair or food crumbs, reach down into the drain area and see if you can remove the clog yourself. You might try using something relatively narrow to scoop this up, such as a slightly bent wire hanger. Do not, however, attempt to force this deeply down into the plumbing system, as you may do more harm than good. You also want to avoid forcing any blockage or debris deeper into the plumbing system.

There may be a drain cap that is built into the unit. Try unscrewing this by twisting it counter-clockwise. Once it’s off, you should be able to peer fully down into the drain. You can also use a flashlight to get a better look at how the blockage is positioned.

If a clog cannot be removed by hand or with a relatively short and narrow tool, use a simple drain snake to clear the blockage. Again, however, this is only a good idea when dealing with soft, organic debris rather than hard toys or plastic personal hygiene implements. Harder items will only get forced deeper into the plumbing system when a drain snake is used.

Once the area has been cleared, go ahead and clean and freshen your drains. You can do this with a combination of white vinegar and baking soda. The chemical reaction that occurs when these two things are mixed is strong enough to power away soap scum and other build-ups that can contribute to problems with a slow-moving drain. You should avoid, however, the use of store-bought, chemical drain cleaners given that these are highly corrosive and can actually eat through your pipes. When all else fails, go ahead and call a reputable, local plumber in to get the job done right.

Fix It All Plumbing has served the Nashville community for decades ensuring your plumbing is working properly and that you have clean water. Our plumbers are committed to providing you with premium unclogging services at fair rates. We are glad to help you with any questions or issues.

Call or text us at (615) 568-5051

Your Nashville Plumber,

Kevin Sipes

The post How To Unclog a Bathtub Drain Full Of Hair in the Bathroom first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

One of the best ways to comply with this program and save water is to install low-flow plumbing fixtures like showerheads, faucets, and toilets.

The program calls for conservative methods to reduce water usage, by encouraging the use of low-flow plumbing fixtures in both our homes and businesses.  Installing low-flow plumbing fixtures in your home offers several benefits, which are outlined below.

For more information on the program and saving more water, check out Start Saving at EPA.gov.

Shower Heads

A great place to start saving inside your home is with a low-flow showerhead.

They reduce water consumption by more than 40%, and help you significantly lower your monthly bill.

Showers also use energy to heat up water, and cutting down on water usage saves energy. This can save you up to $50 on heating costs every year.

Another great attribute of low-flow shower heads is carbon dioxide emissions reduce as a result of the lower amount of energy being used.

Faucets

Another plumbing fixture that can greatly reduce water consumption is the low-flow faucet.

Water flow can be reduced by up to 75%, by upgrading regular 2.0 gallons per minute (GPM) faucets to 0.5gpm for wash hand basins. Using low-flow faucets reduces water usage, energy, and sewers costs because of the lowered water usage and reduced cause to heat up the water.

Also, the amount of water removed from water bodies is decreased thereby protecting the water cycle and alleviating the stress on the water supply for public consumption. In addition to this, low flow faucets decrease energy use emissions linked with treating, distributing, and heating clear water.

Infections can also be prevented because the risk of splashing associated with hand washing is removed.

Toilets

It is estimated that by replacing old toilets with low flow toilets, you can save as much as $100 on general utility bills.

A low flow toilet will use an average of 1.6 gallons of water per flush when compared with standard toilets that use as much as 3.5 gallons.

They are designed to drain more effectively, thereby improving its flushing capabilities.

In a typical home, conventional toilets make up as much as 30% of the water usage monthly. With the use of low flow toilets, however, they use 60-80% less water than conventional toilets.

Toilets are usually the largest water drain in most households, so saving this much water will definitely have a huge impact on your finances.

Also, low flow toilets come in dual flush systems, saving you even more water. The dual flush system is designed in such a way that there are two flush buttons; one for liquid wastes, which dispenses a little quantity of water, and the other for solids, which dispenses just enough to flush wastes down the drain.

Summary

Installing these devices in your home is a great start to protecting the water reservoirs in your area. We can’t live without water, and it’s our job to protect it for our children.

For more information on how you can protect your family from overusing water, contact us today.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Plumber

Fix It All Plumber, Kevin Sipes

The post Benefits of Installing Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures in your Home first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

Today, there are many products you can use to make your child safer when it’s bathroom time.

This article is dedicated to reminding you of some of the dangers your children face in the bathroom and the measures you can take to ensure their safety. We also know how hard it is to get your kids to take a bath sometimes, so there will also be some fun ideas to make the bathroom a fun place for even the fussiest toddler.

Toilet Safety Tips Accessories

Hide the Toilet Paper and Lock the Cabinet Doors

I think every kid decides one day to take a roll of toilet paper and have a ball. Even teenagers think toilet paper is fun.

Obviously, you can’t hide all the toilet paper in your home.  I do recommend keeping an eye on it during potty time. Consider a paper holder or dispenser that only lets you roll a sheet or two at a time.

Secure Your Toilet Brush

You should secure the toilet brush and obviously the cleaners out of plain sight. The last thing you want is your 3-year-old play fighting with the toilet brush, just like Thor swinging his hammer.

Toilet brushes are full of bacteria and need to be kept away. Consider purchasing cheap ones at the Dollar Store or Walmart and change them frequently.

Non-Slip Mats

Water can get everywhere after a bath with a toddler, making the bathroom potentially dangerous for your toddler and yourself.

Slip and fall in the bathroom and you could easily wind up in the hospital with a concussion or worse.

Bath mats also create an opportunity to add some color to your child’s bathroom. Get a bath mat for inside the tub and make sure the floor mats absorb moisture and don’t slide.

Toilet Shut Lock

Now don’t get the wrong idea here, I’m not saying your child will take a dip in the toilet, but I am thinking about them putting their toys or your valuables in the toilet. Why risk it when you can lock it down?

This is also a great way to keep your pets out of the toilet.

Don’t go overboard with these. You can easily find one under $20 online or the next time you’re in Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Summary

These tips and products are the bare minimum you need to make your bathroom kid-safe. We aren’t recommending any brand because the market changes so much. Amazon is a great place to find exactly what you’re looking for. Make sure you read the reviews on each product and consult your local plumber or home improvement guru for tips on the best products for kids.

As always check out our blog and we’ll see you next month.

Your Friendly Neighborhood,

Fix It All Plumber, Kevin Sipes

The post Kid-Proofing Safety Tips for Toilet Time first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

Rule #1: Don’t Panic!

This can be pretty tough, right? Well, I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to worry anymore because this article has a tip you can take with you to every party you attend.

A Close Call At A Graduation Party

Everything was going fine, except when my wife came up to me after returning from the bathroom. She said she clogged the toilet and it’s going to overflow. Me being a plumber, I ran to that bathroom to save my wife from the embarrassment. I ran as fast as I could to see if I could stop the overflow.

When I got there I could see it was luckily not overflowed but at the brim. Thank you, Lord!

I found a plunger, carefully fixed the clog and went back to the party. I assured my wife there was nothing to clean up and everything was fine.

When we got home I told her there was something I wanted to show her. She gave a cheesy look and I said “in the bathroom.” Not knowing what to expect, she slowly inched into the bathroom.

That’s when I showed her there wasn’t much she could do about not clogging the toilet. At parties, it’s obviously more likely to happen. However, I showed her a trick to stop the overflow.

“I wish I would have known this…”

If you run into this situation again, look behind the toilet for the main shut off valve.

Sometimes these are hidden behind a wall, but in many cases, they are not. Simply close the valve (righty tighty, lefty loosey) to stop the flow of water into the bowl.

My wife was astonished at how and said, “I wish I would have known this. Thank you!”

“But wait! There’s more,” I said.

If you can’t move the valve by hand, because it’s stuck, you can remove the toilet tank lid and see if the flapper is open. If it is, close the flapper. If it’s not or won’t stay closed when you close it, grab the float ball and lift it to the surface of the water.

“You now have the tools to go to a party. Haha,” I said. LOL.

Don’t forget about Rule #1: Don’t panic. Then use this trick to save your bathroom or someone else’s.

Just Your Friendly Neighborhood

Fix It All Plumber, Kevin Sipes

The post “Please Stop!” Toilet Overflow Quick Fix first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.