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Nothing can be more frustrating in a home than a plumbing problem. A leaky faucet or running toilet brings dollar signs to mind as you envision the recruitment of a high-priced plumber and time spent inconvenienced by in-home repairs.

But every plumbing problem does not immediately spell disaster. There are quite a few basic plumbing problems that almost all homeowners experience at one time or another. Therefore, it’s best to educate yourself on these potential issues so that you are prepared and knowledgeable to best tackle them should they arise.

The most common of our plumbing problems is that of an annoying leaky faucet. This can be the most aggravation to address if you don’t know how to fix it yourself; calling out a professional plumber for this mostly simple issue can cost you needlessly. But in order to determine if it’s a minor leak or a major pipe breakage, you must first turn off the main water source. If your leak continues then chances are you have a minor issue on your hands. If you actually hear water continuing to run then you may have a bigger problem.

Take time to examine all elements of a plumbing problem. Often the mere tightening of a bolt can eliminate your problem. Replacing simple parts that have eroded with age can also save you big bucks. If you’re unsure how to proceed go online for step-by-step instructions. Or you can visit your local home improvement store where you’ll likely find all the help that you need.

Arm yourself with the tools necessary for success. Call on help to make sure you have the proper inclusions in your tool box. Having what you need on hand increases your chances of completing the project successfully.

In the end, if you find that you’re over your head, don’t be afraid to call in the professionals. A plumber can actually wind up saving you money in the long run; if you do more damage trying to fix a problem yourself then you’ll eradicate any savings anyway.

A plumbing problem doesn’t have to leave you broke and confused. Simple steps can be taken to examine and diagnosis any common plumbing problem. With a little research and some time spent dedicated to the problem you may find that you’ve successfully solved your plumbing problem all on your own. And nothing is more self-satisfying then accomplishing a job with your own two hands.

Posted under Plumbing

We have an 80 gallon AO Smith electric HW heater of an unknown age (bought house 3 years ago). Probably at least 10-15 years old (label on it says "Conservationist"). Water source is a well.
We suddenly had no hot water. After removing element access panels, I see that the wire to the lower element has literally burned off of the thermostat block at the screw. Although the circuit breaker (30 amp) did not trip (nor did the reset button on the thermostat for the upper element), I see signs of high current draw: the plastic "cover" is melted; the insulation on the detached wire crumbles when touched or wire is bent; the wire itself is noticeably thinner in one spot.

I replaced this wire (thermostat block to element) with a fresh length of 12 AWG, cleaned up, and all seemed well (sort-of ;-) Two Days later the reset button on the upper element tripped, so I figured I would change the elements for 2 new ultra low density elements.

Drained tank. Upper element was bent and so encrusted that it was difficult to remove (had to chip sediment off it by "stabbing" at it through the hole with a screwdriver). Lower element VERY VERY hard to turn - a #3 Phillips screw driver through the element socket deflects in the effort to turn the element, and you can HEAR "shhhhhh" when it does turn just a bit.

I'm amazed, but I think the lower element is completely buried in sediment! An ohmmeter on the disconnected element measures 80 ohms. I think it should be about 15 ohms, like the new ones. No short to ground though, so I'm guessing that the problem is an intermittent short.

Concerned that I may snap off the element, I decided to leave it there (re-tightened) and replace just the upper element for now. I figured that even if I get the lower element out/off, I would not be able to remove all the built up sediment.

It appears to be working for now, but I figure I'm on borrowed time. So I'm planning to replace the unit with a new 50 gallon electric heater (our family of 4 really doesn't need 80 gallons!). Do I have any other options that make sense, or have I diagnosed this properly?

I'm assuming that if the previous owner had flushed sediment out of the system every two years or so, these problems could have been avoided. Is that right? (previous owner seems to have done very little in the way of regular maintenance to the house)

I'm also assuming that the change in tank size will mean that my existing pipes may not line up with the new unit's hookups, so there will be some fun there :-) Any other gottchas or issues I should be aware of?



Replace this thing and forget it. Do it now. Everything you've found is telling you it's toast. From your description, I'm surprised the tank hasn't yet fractured. If it's located in a place where leakage from it would not be able to drain away and would cause damage, you're very likely at extreme risk.
You can put a 30-micron sediment filter on main-supply from the well for general principals (easy and cheap) but be advised it probably won't save you from another replacement in ten years or so. What you've seen with this one is exactly what will happen to the next one also. That's just how it is at your location. Regular purging can delay the inevitable by a little bit but probably not a lot. If you can find one with a 15-year warranty, consider that.

Posted under Plumbing

My hot water tank hot water doesnt last as long as it use to. I drained the tank down to see if anything was sitting on the bottom of it, and everything seems ok. A little bit of stuff came out of it that looked like sand, it wasnt very much at all. After it was drained I shook the water tank a it felt empty, and also light. I noticed that it has two thermostats on it, is it possible that one of the elements went bad and one heater cant keep up. If that was the case though I am guessing that the water temp would suffer as well. Not the case as the water is hot just like always, just the length of time the water stays hot has suffered. The water tank is about 10 years old. Any ideas?


Most likely the bottom element is not heating. Or the dip tube could have failed.

Posted under Plumbing