How to Stop Water Line Corrosion in Your Home

Have you recently noticed blue stains on your sinks, tubs or fixtures in your home? Did you know that laundry and even blonde hair can be tinted blue?  Besides actual piping failure, these stains can also identify copper corrosion.  Corrosion in plumbing systems is due to physical and chemical reactions between the pipe material and water.

The main causes of pipe corrosion are:

·      Low pH (acid water) typically found on private well water

·      Improper grounding of electrical appliances to the copper piping

·      High velocity of water, relative to the size of the piping, causing hydraulic wear on the piping

·      Poor plumbing installation practices

·      Sand, sediment or other grit

What can be done to help prevent water line corrosion?  Follow these simple steps!

·      Check to see if there are unnecessary electrical appliances or wiring connected to the piping

·      Make sure piping system is properly grounded

·      Verify to see that there is electrical continuity throughout piping system

·      Check for pH and see if water is corrosive

Carter’s My Plumber is here for all your plumbing needs … call us today!  317-859-9999

Carter’s My Plumber is a local, family-owned plumbing contractor located in Greenwood, Indiana, providing plumbing service to the Indianapolis, Greenwood, Whiteland, Franklin, Bargersville, Trafalgar, Mooresville, Wanamaker, Beech Grove and Southport areas.  Carter’s My Plumber has a special menu of services designed to meet the needs of every homeowner to provide a complete solution to their home’s plumbing system.  With over 30 years of plumbing experience, their trained plumbers meet the plumbing need of every residential and light commercial need.

Why does a Water Softener Regenerate?

Water Softeners are designed to regenerate at night.

Most water softeners are set so that they regenerate at night. This typically happens between two and four in the morning in hopes that you are not using your water. Your water softener works on a pressurized system.  You do not want to be running water anywhere else in the house when your water softener is regenerating. If you do it will pull water away from going through the softener.

What does it mean for my water softener to regenerate?

Regeneration is when your water softener goes through the process of turning hard water into soft water. Most water softeners go through five cycles during regeneration.
(1) Hard water enters your water softener and then filters down through the ion exchange resin where the ion exchange occurs.
(2) The ion exchange exchanges resin for an equal amount of sodium (salt). In other words, this is where the calcium magnesium is taken off the water.  
(3) After the ion exchange is done a brine solution is dispersed where it flushes the calcium magnesium out.
(4) Then, the softener goes through one final flush to get rid of any traces of calcium magnesium that might be left.
(5) Finally, the water reaches the bottom of the tank where it is softened and ready to use. 

Water softeners make noise when regenerating:

If it sounds like water is flowing through it but isn’t in use, you may have a leak.

If your water softener sounds like it is screeching it might be the timer motor getting stuck and rubbing against itself during the regeneration cycle.

It is important to replace the resin bed every eight to ten years because the resin becomes worn out after so long to where it no longer has the ability to soften your water correctly.

What Is That Sound Coming From My Water Softener?

Is your water softener keeping you up at night?  Does your child think there is a monster in the water closet?  Many noises can come from a water softener, including knocks and squeals.  Some noises are completely normal while others may require a licensed technician to take a look and see if something is wrong.

What is a water softener?

In order to determine why the softener is making a noise, let’s first learn what it does.  If you have hard water you know how valuable a water softener can be.  This simple appliance essentially removes mineral deposits from water bearing certain minerals, otherwise known as hard water.   It consists of a pump, a filter and a tank that contains salt or resin pellets that are designed to attract negatively charged ions out of the water.  After a while, the resin in the softener becomes saturated by calcium and other mineral particles.  For the appliance to continue to diminish water hardness, the pellets must be rinsed clean.  This requires the machine to regenerate or recharge the resin bed. 

Is that noise normal?

The water softener has several moving parts, such as a mechanical motor, that can make noises.  Many people mistake the noise during the regeneration cycle for some sort of mechanical problem when, in fact, the softener is simply doing its job.  That doesn’t mean, however, that the machine can’t make strange noises that might indicate an issue. Here are some things that could happen and create noise:

·      Build up of calcium or magnesium on the intake valves

·      Trying to use water while it’s regenerating can cause the softener to vibrate and knock loudly

·      Problem with the air check mechanism (the floating ball)

·      Timer motor can cause squealing when belts slip, grinding between gears, or knocking if something is loose

·      May not be the softener at all – could be your water heater or other appliance

Regeneration schedule

Often, the softener is set to regenerate at nighttime.  If this wakes you at night you can adjust the regeneration schedule to run during the day.  This will help from waking you up at night.  You may also want to change the timer so it doesn’t regenerate while you’re making dinner, taking a shower or using the bathroom. 

What can I do?
Sometimes there may be so much mineral build up or salt separation the softener can’t run correctly.  You can manually backwash it before manually regenerating it a few times.  For a more in depth look to what the issue may be, or to schedule a licensed technician to work on your softener, call Carter’s My Plumber today!

Carter’s My Plumber is a local, family-owned plumbing contractor located in Greenwood, Indiana, providing plumbing service to the Indianapolis, Greenwood, Whiteland, Franklin, Bargersville, Trafalgar, Mooresville, Wanamaker, Beech Grove and Southport areas.  Carter’s My Plumber has a special menu of services designed to meet the needs of every homeowner to provide a complete solution to their home’s plumbing system.  With over 30 years of plumbing experience, their trained plumbers meet the plumbing need of every residential and light commercial need.

Creating the Perfect Bathroom

Is it time to upgrade your bathroom?  This simple remodel can add money to your house and help it sell.  Designing a good bathroom does require planning, good information and careful thought.  A bathroom is one of the hardest-working spaces in the home.  If it’s not functional, everybody suffers.  Follow these tips to help you create the perfect bathroom:

·      Functionality and Space  - plan enough room for each fixture and function

·      Daily routine – think about daily use when making a floor plan

·      Color and Motif – mix soft with hard, soften with natural elements

·      Know your surfaces – learn about the inherent qualities and drawbacks of each material

·      Add drama with fixtures – think of plumbing fixtures as the jewelry of the bathroom

·      Be careful with lighting – consider appropriate lighting for sink and shower areas

·      Plan for daylight and privacy – getting natural light into your bathroom while maintaining privacy requires good planning

·      Consider your mechanical and electrical needs – don’t place shower valves on exterior walls as they are susceptible to freezing and harder to repair if they ever leak

·      Plan for future needs – yes, we do all grow older; make sure it’s still ideal when you’re less mobile, susceptible to falling and need more light for good vision

·      Consider cleaning and maintenance – make sure you know all the characteristics of each of your selections before finalizing your choices

Remember to provide good ventilation for odors and humidity.  It’s also a good idea to design in the lighting from the beginning.  Light for the vanity should come from two directions if possible.  This will allow one light to fill in shadows cast by the other. 

Here are Ten Top Tips to a Perfect Bathroom:

1.     Use a fog-free mirror

2.     Entertainment (radio, television)

3.     Under floor heating

4.     Large shower head

5.     Good storage

6.     Two basins

7.     Taps in the middle of the bath for a spa feeling

8.     Skylights if possible for more light and feeling of space

9.     Walk in shower suggests more space

10. Good quality towels

It’s always a wise idea to hire a qualified, licensed plumber to fit your bathroom if you’re planning a big job.  Remember to call Carter’s My Plumber to help with all your needs!

Carter’s My Plumber is a local, family-owned plumbing contractor located in Greenwood, Indiana, providing plumbing service to the Indianapolis, Greenwood, Whiteland, Franklin, Bargersville, Trafalgar, Mooresville, Wanamaker, Beech Grove and Southport areas.  Carter’s My Plumber has a special menu of services designed to meet the needs of every homeowner to provide a complete solution to their home’s plumbing system.  With over 30 years of plumbing experience, their trained plumbers meet the plumbing need of every residential and light commercial need.

10 Things a Licensed Plumber Wishes a Homeowner wouldn't Do to their Plumbing

Are you in the "Fix Your Own Plumbing" Mindset?

Once again your toilet it clogged, and this time it’s your entire fault. Here are some tips on how future clogs, floods or breakdowns can be avoided.

1.     Drano - Don’t Do It

      Don't use chemicals to open or clear drains-they rarely get the job all the way done. Harsh chemicals are not only dangerous for you to handle, they can damage your pipes and other equipment used to unclog the blockage. Hint: If you want to stay away from this kind of issue in the first place, make sure to keep common cloggers like grease and hair out of drains.

2.     Your toilet is a like a backup garbage can.

      Many of your household items such as feminine hygiene products, hygiene wipes, toilet scrubbers, make-up remover pads or cat litter may be labeled “flushable” but in reality they aren’t. They don’t break down quickly enough to avoid blocking the drainpipe.

3.     The “Do-It-Yourselfer”

      The best route making sure a plumbing problem gets fixed is hiring a licensed plumber. They can find and correct a problem more efficiently than an amateur can, which will save you money in the long run. Don’t try to diagnose and fix a plumbing problem yourself, or hire a handyman to do your plumbing work without expecting a headache and spending unnecessary money.

4.     You have no idea where the main water valve is located.

      It is important to know where the main water valve and every emergency shut off valve are located within your house. What will help out even more is if you know how to turn off these valves. Most plumbers will check emergency shut-off valves at no charge if you’re not comfortable with doing it yourself.

5.     You use drop in toilet tablets.

     Drop in toilet fresheners may seem harmless but they often contain chemicals that can damage the parts inside the tank. Another issue is that as they start to dissolve, they can get stuck in the flush valve, preventing the toilet from flushing.

6.     You forget to replace the hoses.

      It is important to replace rubber hoses on washing machines and dishwashers every five years to avoid them bursting. It is best to use stainless steel on all water lines when replacing the hoses.

7.     You don’t have a leak protection system.

      Leaks can turn ugly fast. For only a few hundred dollars avoid water damage and purchase a water leak protection system that offers both an alarm and main water shut-off in case a leak occurs.

8.     Your Hot Water Heater is outdated.

      The average lifespan of a hot water heater is 8-12 years. Avoid having to deal with your 20-year-old tank failing, causing a flood in your home while you are on vacation.

9.     You overload the garbage disposal.

      Yes, your garbage disposal may be able to handle large amounts of garbage at once, but the effects are damaging. Make sure to slowly feed garbage into your disposal while running cold water. Fibrous food such as celery and artichokes can be hard on your garbage disposal, as sometimes they are so densely chopped up that the remains can build up around the blades of the garbage disposal. Grease is also another definite no-no for your garbage disposal as it can solidify and clog the drain.

10. You mess with the water heater’s pressure valve.

      Don’t be a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to draining your water heater or testing the temperature and pressure valve. If the valve is removed improperly, the pressure from the tank can diffuse scalding hot water that could cause serious burns as well as property damage. Avoid the damage and stress and hire a professional.

When in doubt, call the Plumber!  You can reach Carter's My Plumber at 317-859-9999.  Carter’s My Plumber is a local, family-owned plumbing contractor located in Greenwood, Indiana, providing plumbing service to the Indianapolis, Greenwood, Whiteland, Franklin, Bargersville, Trafalgar, Mooresville, Wanamaker, Beech Grove and Southport areas.  Carter’s My Plumber has a special menu of services designed to meet the needs of every homeowner to provide a complete solution to their home’s plumbing system.  With over 30 years of plumbing experience, their trained plumbers meet the plumbing need of every residential and light commercial need.