Plumbing Idaho Falls

But Be Prepared To Go Here….(Cont’d from last week)

The earlier styles were quite simple to replace, but are now extinct for the most part. Today the ball, cartridge, and disc are the most popular styles. However, the oldest and most common style used within the plumbing industry is the stem faucet – also called the “compression faucet” – used from the turn of the century until today. This type uses a threaded stem that brings the washer into contact with a seat which restricts the flow of water. The seat will eventually wear out, and begin to leak. Although each faucet may be slightly different, all are constructed similarly, so follow these simple steps during routine maintenance (if you are that much on top of your game) or when repairing (if you’re like the rest of the world).

Like tap washers, damaged seats must also be replaced. If they are the non-removable type, you will need to dress them with a seat-dressing tool. Under normal conditions stems are quite durable, and will last a good while, but if you don’t replace the washers or dress the seats, you’ll have to replace them sooner than you otherwise would. (If you dont repair the stems soon enough, you will end up having to replace the entire faucet.) It is very important that you know the dimensions of both the valve stems and the faucet (in addition to having a photo or sketch). You will probably be surprised at the number of options. Replacements are available online and at your local hardware/plumbing store (Lowes, Home Depot, et al.). If your faucets are older, you may have to visit a specialty plumbing store or specialty site online.

As always, if we can help, please give us a call!   We are always happy to be of service!

Many Causes (Continued from last week) Pollution and over-irrigation may also have contributed. Without adequate drainage, irrigated water evaporates, leaving salts and minerals behind that can dry the surface of the ground and poison plant roots.

Read more:
Shrinking Water Supply – Part 2

Water droughts are increasingly prevalent. If not dealt with, the problem could worsen and spread, affecting more of the planet.

Here is the original post:
Water Supply Is Shrinking – Part 1

It’ Can Be A Bit Complicated….

There are thousands of faucet designs on the market today – from traditional to contemporary; and all of them need occasional maintenance.  Often drips or leaks can be caused by a worn tap washer. So start there when troubleshooting the leak. Replacing a tap washer is typically a simple job. However, there are many different types of tap washers of varying quality, and material composition on the market.  Whatever the type, if the washer is split or has dried out, replace it. Continuing to use a leaky washer will erode the seat. Replace the washer with the exact size and type as the one you take out.

Start Here….

If don’t know where to start, the best thing to do is to seek advice from your local hardware or plumbing store (or Lowes/Home Depot) on the specific washer you will need. Either (ideally) take in the worn washer, or take a picture of the faucet with your cell phone (in the likely event that you have a camera phone).  If you ask the store attendants, they will explain how to remove the components of your particular faucet, to get to the tap washer – assuming you have a picture of the faucet.

To be continued next week….