Discussion with a plumber part 4 or 4

 

Hi gang.

 

Part 4 in a 4 part series on “discussions with a plumber”

A friend of mine, Tanner Mansfield, is the owner of Damascus Road Services, LLC

https://tannermansfield.com/

804-306-2706

 

I spent 45 minutes one evening talking to him about the issues that come up in home plumbing problems, that result in him being called.

Today, I am talking about what things specific to metal pipes—copper, cast iron and related.

1.       Cast iron drain pipes can develop a buildup of stuff.

a.       Occasionally, you will suffer a blockage. A snake or related thing may clear the immediate problem, but the pipes are still narrowed.   

b.       A chain knocker uses a piece of chain on a spinner on the inside of the pipe to knock the inside gunk off. It leaves the inside nice and clean and smooth, often smoother than when it was new.

c.       A HydroJet is a powerwasher for the inside of the pipes. Does the same thing as a chain knocker, but may be less dangerous for thin pipes.

2.       Copper pipes.

a.       You can use bleach in your water. There is a lot of crap around out there about how bleach causes corrosion. This is true only in very high concentrations, undiluted. And your water, unless you are on a well, is chlorinated- it has chlorine bleach, very dilute, in it already. Use the bleach. It will not hurt anything, just be sure to run some water after it, to wash it down. By the time the bleach you add does enough damage to make a difference, your great-grandchildren will have pulled the copper out of your house for scrap anyway.

3.       Check all the shut off valves and fixtures. Look for stickiness and other problems.

a.       Most valves have some sort of gasket, and can be replaced with a ball valve, which is a more efficient valve.

4.       Check your water pressure. There are self monitoring devices that will do this for you, but a pro can tell you if you have the right pressure. Typically, you want the pressure to be between 40 and 55.

a.       Too high, you can install a pressure regulator to restrict or slow the flow. You can control the pressure with the spin of a bolt.

b.       Too low, you should check the meter or water intake line. It may be clogged.

c.       Well water may have a clog in the line or a bad pressure switch or a leak in the bladder tank. That is a bad experience. I had to replace a pressure switch and capacitor when I was in college. I was badly hung over, and that was a VERY unpleasant experience, on both counts.

5.       Gas leaks and water leaks at the meter- Turn it off and call the city, or provider.  If you have gas, you should have a gas key. If you have city water, you should have a water key.

 

Jason

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