aMenu
x

Plumbing FAQs


 

 

 

 


At Capital Plumbing we strive to be a resource for our local community. We hire top professionals that are trained and certified in the latest plumbing techniques. Serving your home or business is a privilege and we don't take that for granted. We consider it a honor to be your local source for all your home of business plumbing needs in Taylors, Greer, Simpsonville, Anderson, Spartanburg and the greater Greenville, SC.area.

Below are a handful of our most frequent FAQ's. If you are having a plumbing issue don't hesitate to give us a call at 864.268.7888. If you would like to submit a question to be added to our FAQ page, please fill out the form below and we will do our best to answer your question in a timely manner.

 

 

 

 

Q: I think I have a leak. Am I just being paranoid or is it really a leak?

A: Inspect the area that you think you may have a leak and follow the water. Once you locate the leak, you can mark it with a sharpie marker of a piece of duct tape. If there are supply lines or appliances around the suspect area, check them carefully for rips or splits, unattached hoses or anything else that looks like it could cause a leak. Turn off the nearest shutoff valve and give us a call. It could be a simple fix that you can do yourself or we can come out and offer our professional service to fix or repair your leak.

Q: Why should I hire a licensed plumber?

A: Would you allow someone that doesn't have a MD degree to diagnose you or your loved one with a terminal illness? The same logic applies. A licensed plumber must demonstrate their competence as installers of plumbing systems to an official board prior to being issued a license. This separates "handymen" with experience as opposed to someone that is licensed and passed regulations to practice safe plumbing practices.

Q: The drain pipes under my kitchen sink and the garbage disposal keep coming loose - what do I do?

A: This isn't a simple answer. For starters don't mix PVC washers/nuts with metal washers/nuts. Keep them consistent. Keep the plastic washers with the plastic pipes. The thicker side faces the nut and the thinner side faces the cup. Also make sure that the pipes fit down into the next pipe as far as they can go.

Q: Is replacing a bathtub a big or difficult project?

A: Depending on your expertise it can be difficult. Here are our suggestions. While you are replacing the tub, we recommend you replace the waste and overflow. We also recommend you replace the tub/shower faucet. Many of the top manufacturers make tub surrounds that come in 2 or 3 piece sections which make it a lot easier to fit through doorways. When removing the old tub, it is best to break it out with a sledge hammer and cut it up with a Sawzall.

Q: My dishwasher does not completely drain itself. Does this mean my dishwasher is broken?

A: While it may seem strange, dishwashers are supposed to leave some water in the unit at the end of each cycle. They are designed this way to keep the element heater (used for drying the dishes) from overheating and burning up.

Q: How do I get a snake down a tub drain?

A: The best way to tackle this problem is to remove the overflow plate - this is the round thing on the tub wall with 2 screws. When you pull it out, two sections of the stopper mechanism will come with it This mechanism should be hinged so it can bend through the shower hole. Chances are that the hair and other various particles are caught on the end which is clogging the drain. You may not need to snake if you are able to get a large amount of hair removed. If need be you can snake from this point. Please note: a typical drain snake will not go through the drain hole at the bottom of the tub.

Q: What can I put down the garbage disposal?

A: Generally speaking you can place food scraps and some fruit peelings safely through your home kitchen garbage disposal.

Q: How do I properly use a kitchen garbage disposal?

A: Use the following steps:

  1. Turn on the water first and allow the water to flow through the drain for a few seconds.
  2. Turn on your disposal and allow the water to run through the disposal for a few seconds.
  3. You can now start to place your food scraps down the disposal. Make sure the water is still running as you place the items into the disposal.
  4. When you are done placing scraps into the disposal leave the disposal on for a few seconds and continue to let the water flow through the running disposal.
  5. You can now turn off your disposal.
  6. Now you can turn off your kitchen sink.
  7. The purpose for running the water before and after allowing food to pass is to carry all of the ground material from the kitchen drain (1 ½: - 2" diameter) to the 4" diameter building sewer line which may be anywhere from 30 - 75 feet away.
  8. Note: Many older homes were plumbed with cast iron or galvanized pipes which are more prone to build and spots that may clog. Do your best to follow these instructions every time you use your disposal.

Q: My garbage disposal stinks. Is there anything I can do to eliminate these odors?

A: Please use the following steps:

  1. Run HOT water down the disposal for a couple of minutes
  2. Turn off the water and pour a half cup of baking soda down the disposal
  3. Pour a ½ cup of white vinegar down the disposal
  4. Allow the solution to foam in the disposal. Allow this to set, this will clean the disposal and eliminate smells
  5. After the foam has started to dissipate, pour HOT water down the drain and turn on the disposal
  6. If the above steps do completely get rid of the odor, you can try an additional step below
  7. Cut up citrus fruit (peelings of lemons and oranges work best) into small pieces about the size of a dime. Run the citrus peelings through the disposal with HOT water.