Frequently Asked Questions
Check all toilets, showers, faucets, and other plumbing fixtures. Toilet flush chains can get stuck causing water to run continuously. Faucets and showers could be dripping continuously, which typically means the internal cartridge has to be replaced. Dripping water may not seem like a lot but consider it is leaking 24 hours a day for an entire month before it appears on your water bill.
Yes! Pipes can be insulated or rerouted out of areas without heat. If you have an outdoor shower, outdoor hose bib, other outdoor piping, Zeek Plumbing can assist you with winterizing it. Standard hose bibs can be replaced with frost free units.
In very small doses, drain cleaning chemicals can be safe. However, it is always best to call the professionals to snake and clear the clogged drain. Drain cleaning liquids cause a chemical reaction to break apart the debris, which is also breaking apart the plumbing/piping. With continued use, your piping will corrode, and eventually may lead to a complete repipe of the drain.
If you are on a well, you may be having an issue with your well pump and system. Debris can clog ports or cause pressure switches to malfunction. If you are on town/city water, the shut off valves at your water meter may not be fully opened or operational. Low water pressure can also indicate there is a leak on the water main underground preventing the water from reaching the home at full pressure. Zeek Plumbing has our own fully equipped excavation division ready to make any main repair you may need.
Zeek Plumbing does not recommend using a garbage disposal. There are varying schools of thought as technically anything you place down the drain could get caught up in the garbage disposal. However, ice, citrus rinds, wet dog/cat food, most fruits and vegetables are safe to place down the disposal, in moderation. Despite that, some fruits like banana peels can get caught up in the blades. We always air on the side of caution and recommend throwing away any food scraps to prevent a future clog rather than placing them in the garbage disposal. Most kitchens have garbage cans within a few feet of the sink, placing any questionable items in the garbage can is the safest bet. See the picture below of a sink drain line clogged with grease and coffee grinds causing a black build up to form.
Most homeowners have a plunger on hand to assist with a clogged toilet. If the clog cannot be cleared with a plunger, we do not recommend homeowners to attempt to snake or auger the toilet. You can get the snake/auger stuck in the toilet or stuck further down the line, which can be costly to cut out and repipe the plumbing. If multiple toilets are not draining, it may not be an issue with your toilets, and your sewer main or septic line could be backed up. Call Zeek Plumbing at 866-635-0200 for your drain snaking needs.
The average lifespan of a water heater is about 10 years or so. The standard water heater warranty is 6 years. The lifespan can be shorter or longer depending on the quality of water passing through the unit. If your township/city/well has very hard water, it will deteriorate the unit faster than a home with soft water. Zeek Plumbing has replaced units that were 25 years old and replaced units that were 3 years old under warranty, it varies.
Refer to Zeek Plumbing’s blog post, as there are both pros and cons. The pros of having a high efficiency unit is you use less energy to make hot water which can keep your utility costs down. However, if you have more than 2 bathrooms, washing machine, and dishwasher, the unit may struggle to meet the hot water demand. High efficiency units only make hot water when you use it so it can have trouble providing a large amount of hot water at the same time.
Sump pumps are placed in a pit and use a float system when the water reaches a certain level the pump turns on. If the pit never fills up to that level, your sump pump would not turn on as it does not need to. You can pour water into the pit to see if the float engages and the pump turns on. Pictured below, the float is the large white canister connected to the sump pump itself. If the unit does not kick on, we recommend checking the outlet the unit is plugged into, as it is a common issue for the outlet to trip. You would need a licensed electrician to fix the outlet, but if the pump has power and is not working, call Zeek Plumbing at 866-635-0200 or use our book online form to schedule an appointment.
The main shut off valve to your home is always located next to your water meter or well tank. If you have a mechanical room in your basement or boiler room, it is most likely located there.
If you will be gone for an extended period of time, Zeek Plumbing would recommend turning your water off. There is no worse feeling than returning home from an amazing trip away, and you have 4 feet of water in your basement. You will not be using any fixtures while you are away, but leaks can happen at any time. If a leak does occur and the water is off, it will be contained to only the existing water in the system, it will not continually pull water from the main.
If you have any additional questions not covered on this FAQ page, please contact the Zeek Plumbing office at 866-635-0200. We would be happy to assist you with any questions you may have. Zeek Plumbing does not operate with any high pressure sales, we do not look to sell anything customers do not need. Refer to our reviews online, and let us know how we can help!
