Homeowner advice
Five Plumbing Things Worth Knowing About Your House
From James Woolfe, licensed master plumber, Jupiter FL.
James Woolfe has worked on plumbing in Northern Palm Beach County for more than 35 years. These are the five things he tells homeowners to know about their own house, because knowing them is what turns an emergency into an inconvenience.
1. Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is
This is the valve that stops all water to the house, and in an emergency it is the difference between a wet floor and a flooded one. Find it before you need it, and check that it actually turns.
If yours is the round handle type, do not overtighten it. That style gets brittle with age, and an overtightened one can break or fail to close all the way at the moment you need it most. A lever type shuts off faster and is far less likely to break, which is what we fit when one needs replacing.
2. Check Your Fixture Shutoff Valves Once a Year
These are the small valves under sinks and behind toilets that isolate one fixture. Kept in working order, they let a repair happen without shutting the water to the whole house.
Leakage almost always shows up directly behind the handle. Look there when you check them. A valve that weeps, sticks, or will not turn should be replaced before it becomes the reason you cannot stop a leak.
3. Toilets Are the Most Common Source of Water Loss
Flappers, tank seals, ballcocks and flush mechanisms are behind most of the water that quietly disappears from a house, and they are one of the most common reasons for a water bill that suddenly looks wrong.
There is a simple test. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, then leave it twenty to thirty minutes without flushing. If any color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is passing water and has been doing so around the clock.
4. Look at a Water Heater Once It Passes Ten Years
At that age it is worth a look once or twice a year. Check the bottom of the tank and both front panels for rust or any sign of leakage. Those are where a failing heater shows itself first, usually well before it lets go.
You can check the age without calling anyone. On most heaters the first four digits of the serial number give you the date: the first two are the month, the second two are the year.
5. Find Your Cleanout
A cleanout is a pipe coming out of the ground, usually at the front of the house or off to one side near the front. It is three or four inches across, sits no more than about six inches above ground, and has a cap or plug that unscrews. It connects directly to the main drain line running out to the city sewer.
It is the access point for snaking the main line when nothing in the house is draining. It can also be opened to relieve water that is backing up inside, which can mean less damage while you wait. If you do not have one, or cannot find yours, it is worth having one installed.
Why Choose All Quality Plumbing
- More than 35 years of plumbing experience
- Owner operated, you work directly with James
- Licensed and insured, Florida CFC1427716
- Upfront pricing before work begins
- 24/7 availability, nights, weekends and holidays
- Serving Northern Palm Beach County
- 4.9 star Google rating from more than 125 reviews
Common questions
Questions Homeowners Ask
How do I know how old my water heater is?
How can I tell if my toilet is leaking?
Where is my cleanout, and what is it for?
Which type of main shutoff valve is better?
What should I do first in a plumbing emergency?
Something on This List Not Looking Right?
Call and describe it. We are available 24 hours a day across Jupiter, Tequesta, Palm Beach Gardens and Northern Palm Beach County.