FAQs

Routine plumbing, inspection, and maintenance can help to detect minor issues before they become costly, major repairs or cause damage to your home.

Common plumbing problems include a clogged or inoperable toilet. If yours won’t flush, try the following:

• A plunger or bucket of hot water may restore the flow
• Lift the tank cover to ensure the water level is up to the fill line
• Check to ensure the rubber flapper and chain are both operable
• Call Servidio Services for expert, reliable plumbing diagnosis and repair

A running toilet is more than just an annoyance; if left unattended it can waste hundreds of gallons of water. The most common cause is an open flap at the bottom of the tank, which allows the water to escape and prevents the float ball trigger from stopping the flow of water since the water level never reaches the fill line.

An unexplained spike in your water bill can be due to a number of reasons, including:

• Leaky taps or faucets
• Running or leaking toilet
• Leaky pipes or lines
• Leaky irrigation system
• Lifestyle changes
• Bad habits or water waste
• Outdated and/or inefficient fixtures
• Leaky appliances

• Use the dishwasher – even for half loads.  You use far more water when you wash dishes by hand.
• Don’t let the water run non-stop if you are washing and rinsing your dishes by hand.
• Make sure your dishwasher is working properly.  Pay attention to cycle lengths and abnormal starting and stopping.
• When your washer or dishwasher needs replaced, choose water saving options.
• Use the correct load size for your laundry.
• Pay attention to any faucet drips, running toilets, and remember to shut off the hose when you are done – even if it has a closed hose nozzle.
• Keep your plumbing fixtures updated.
• Don’t turn the shower on until you are ready to get in.  The average 15-minute shower uses between 37 and 50 gallons of water.  Letting it run for 10 minutes before you get in, is like washing water (and your money) down the drain, literally.

The main water shut-off valve for your home can be found:

• Along the interior perimeter, on the front wall of the basement, next to the sewer cleanout.
• It is always found below the water meter
• Sometimes it is found behind an access panel in a finished basement.
• Or, you can find it in your home inspection report.

In addition to securing the exterior of your home to prevent weather infiltration or a break-in, it’s equally as important to safeguard your interior against potential damage from a flood or fire. The best way to avoid coming home to a disaster from a leak or burst pipe is to turn off the main water valve before you leave and ensure the thermostat is set to a minimum of 55 degrees.

• Grease – Use a paper towel to absorb the grease and then discard the paper towel in the garbage.  It is never a good idea to rinse greasy droppings down the drain.
• Hair –Use proper strainer devices to avoid hair getting into your pipes.  Don’t rinse hair down the drain.
• Disposable Wipes – Diaper Wipes, Personal Bathroom Wipes, Hand Wipes. Don’t flush them even if the packaging says they are flushable.  Put them in the garbage. They build up and clog pipes.  Professional removal can be very costly.
• Feminine Products and Paper Towels.  Put them in the garbage.
• Incorrect Garbage Disposal Use.  See the Do’s and Don’ts below.

Start running the water first, then turn on the power and then add the food.  Putting the food down first and then running the water will result in clogs and back- ups.  Waste needs lots of water flow.  More water and less food will help you to avoid clogs and extend the life of your disposal.

Items that should never go down the disposal:

• Grease
• Coffee Grounds
• Banana Peels, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Honey Dew Rinds
• Potato Peels
• Celery
• Cabbage
• Bones

• Float switch problems.
• Accumulation of excess debris, interfering with the float switch.
• The pump can move inside the basin, and that may interfere with the float switch
• Clogged ejection line debris caught in the intake impellars.

Standard household water pressure is between 40 to 60 pounds per square inch and should not exceed 60 psi. without a pressure-reducing valve. If you have noticed a recent drop in water pressure, common causes may include:

• Inground Water Main – Water Service Leak.
• Old Galvanized Plumbing Water Lines.
• Pressure Reducing Valve issues
• And more

To prevent your pipes from freezing, make sure that they are in a heated area.  If they are not in a heated area, you can let a tap drip slowly during cold weather to keep water flowing through the pipes. If you are going to be away from home for an extended period of time during the winter, you should shut off the water supply to your house and drain the pipes.

Fixing a leaky pipe depends on the severity of the leak. Small, slow leaks may be temporarily patched with pipe tape or a repair clamp. However, these types of repairs will only last a short while, so for these and more substantial leaks or burst pipes, it’s highly recommended to turn off the water supply and contact a professional plumber. Ignoring a major leak can lead to extensive water damage and costly repairs.