Dear Friends,
The last four years, California has faced a drought that continues to ravage our state and water supply. Ensure you are doing your part this summer by conserving water and saving energy. A quick walk through your home can uncover hidden leaks and areas to improve on your water conservation efforts. Check out our water conservation checklist, water discounts and drought resource center to help you cut back on water usage and save money on your next water bill.
Thank you for doing your part and choosing George Brazil.
– George Brazil
Toilets
- Listen for Hissing Sounds If you are hearing a continuous sound of water when nothing is turned on there could be a leak.
- Check for Leaks by taking the lid off tank and putting a couple drops of food coloring in tank. Let it sit (don’t flush). If the water turns color in the bowl after sitting a number of minutes, that means you have a leak.
- Adjust the Float Level of the toilet to reduce the amount of water necessary per flush.
- Consider replacing your old toilet with a more efficient low-flow toilet. They are readily available in a variety of styles and colors to suit your needs.
- Call a Professional – Toilet leaks are one of the most common leaks found in homes. Often times the leaks go unnoticed because they are silent and out of sight. If you discover a leak in any part of your home, contact us at 888-403-7144 to repair the problem before it gets worse.
Faucets & Drains
- Turn on all Faucets in your home and check if there is any water coming out of the handles and valves. Sometimes a faucet will have to be turned on all the way before it will leak.
- Check Under the Sink. A leak under the faucet can be the hardest to notice as most people don’t check that area often.
- Check the Drainage Speed of each sink, shower and tub drain. Slow drainage usually indicates a clog in the drain or a blocked vent pipe. Your drains should have a full swirl when draining.
- Call a Professional. Our professional plumbers are experts at diagnosing and resolving any drain clog or faucet leak. Learn more about our professional Drain Cleaning Services or check out our $99 Drain Cleaning special!
Appliances
- Inspect the Dishwasher for leaks. If your dishwasher is leaking because it has overflowed, the water inlet valve may be the cause. If your dishwasher continues to fill above the heating element, open the door to see if it stops filling. If the filling continues, you have a defective inlet valve that will need to be replaced. Remember, even the smallest drip from a worn dishwasher can waste 50 or more gallons of water a day.
- Check your Washing Machine Hose(s) to make sure that there aren’t any cracks and that the hoses are not brittle or leaking. Over time, rubber hoses will weaken with constant water pressure. If a supply hose bursts it can empty hundreds of gallons of water into your home.
- Avoid this worry with STAINLESS STEEL BRAIDED washing machine hoses. It is a lot cheaper than new wood flooring, baseboards, walls, carpeting, cabinets, shoes and irreplaceable items.
- THE SIMPLE SOLUTION is to have our technician carefully move your washing machine, while protecting your baseboards and flooring. We will replace your tired old rubber hoses with the new stainless steel braided hoses.
- See our $79 Hose Replacement Special
Leaky Pipes
- Check for Corrosion in your pipes. A sign of corrosion is green stains around brass and copper fittings and on shutoff valves, and yellow or orange stains on old steel pipe. Even small amounts of corrosion can lead to water leaks and bad pipe connections if not corrected.
- Look for Cracked Tiles in the shower, around sinks, or near water pipes in the home. Loose or hollow tiles can be an indication that there is, or was, a leak that has caused rotting underneath or behind the tile.
- Check for Wet Spots on walls, ceilings and floors. Excessive condensation can create problems such as stress on the foundation of your home and cracking.
- High Electric and Water Bill. Check for inconsistencies in your water and electrical bill each month. If your bill is above the norm it could be a sign you have a leak.
- Call a Plumber. Water leaks can cost homeowners thousands of dollars in utility bills and structural damage if not repaired within a timely manner. Don’t wait until it’s too late, if you suspect a leak schedule an appointment today with one of our qualified plumbers.
Irrigation & Outdoors
- Observe your Sprinkler System while it’s operating and after, this will help pinpoint the direction of any sprinkler leaks so you can make repairs.
- Install a Programmable Irrigation Timer to help reduce overwatering.
- Check your Lawn for areas that have pooling water or are noticeably greener above the water lines. This could indicate an underground leak in the water line.
- Check your Water Meter for accuracy to ensure costly outdoor leaks don’t go unnoticed.
