Q & A

Q: The drain in my kitchen sink has a terrible odor to it. How do I get rid of the odor?

A: To get rid of a horrible odor coming from the drain in your sink, first pour 1/2 cup of salt down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of baking soda. Next, pour 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain and cap it for about 1 minute. After this minute, pour hot water down the drain to flush it out. The salt cleans the drainpipe while the baking soda absorbs the odor. The vinegar creates a chemical reaction with the other ingredients that bubbles and helps clean and eliminate the odor. Use this method instead of using dangerous chemicals. It's also very cost effective! Another great option is Bio-Clean, which is an enzyme maintenance product. Ask one of our technicians about it!

Q: I would like to conserve water, but don't want to buy a new low-flow toilet. What else can I do to conserve?

A: One easy way to turn your conventional toilet into a low-flow toilet is to take a bottle of water and fill it up with sand. Then, place the bottle with the sand inside the tank of your toilet to displace that amount of water and cause the toilet to use less water when flushing.

Q: What can we do around the home to help save money?

A: There are some simple things you can do around your home to help save money. For starters, replace old equipment that doesn't work efficiently anymore. Next, make sure you take good care of that equipment. We will visit your home about once a year and give your new equipment a check-up. We'll make sure its working properly and not wasting energy. Also, lower your heating and cooling when no one is home. Finally, unplug your computer, microwave oven, and other items that use a lot of energy. Did you know that when these appliances are turned off but still plugged in that they still use up energy?

Q: What causes hot water to be rusty and brown?

A: Rusty and brown water are the first signs that a water heater is beginning to fail. The coloring of the water is caused by rust. The interior of the tank is wearing out due to age and from water not being regularly flushed from the unit. This aging process commonly happens with gas heaters as a result of direct heat from the burner assembly. Turn off water and gas to the heater. Once you have shut off the water and gas contact Robinson Plumbing.

Other Tips

Pipe banging usually occurs when you turn on your water. This is an indication that your pipes are not sufficiently strapped.

Squeaking occurs when the pipe expands, it moves in its strap, and friction causes the squeak. to prevent squeaking, you may cushion the pipe.

Chattering in the piping may be caused by loose pipes, by pipes rubbing against a metal projection, by worn faucet washers or looseness of other inside parts.

Whistling is caused by the speed of water flowing through piping which is usually too small. A pressure reducing valve will help as will a general straightening out of the plumbing system. Whistling is most common at bends and tees in the pipe.

You can save on average 7 gallons a day By fixing a leaky faucet right away.

If you have a gas water heater, you should periodically check the pilot light. The flame should be blue with a yellow tip. If it is yellow, this may mean you need a safety adjustment. Contact a professional to fix the problem.

Run water into drains that are not used very often (prevents sewer gas odors)

Be sure to shut off your main system before leaving your house for a few weeks. The water will stay in the pipes, however, this prevent any further damages in case a leak starts while you are away.

Replace your furnace filters more often during the heating season. Clogged filters force your blower to work longer and use more energy.

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